Name: This company pays kids to do their math homework
Uploaded: 2018-02-08T15:46:57Z
Duration: 13 min 31 s
Description: Mohamad Jebara loves mathematics -- but he's concerned that too many students grow up thinking that this beautiful, rewarding subject is difficult and boring. His company is experimenting with a bold idea: paying students for completing weekly math homework. He explores the ethics of this model and how it's helping students -- and why learning math is crucial in the era of fake news.

Mohamad Jebara loves mathematics -- but he's concerned that too many students grow up thinking that this beautiful, rewarding subject is difficult and boring. His company is experimenting with a bold idea: paying students for completing weekly math homework. He explores the ethics of this model and how it's helping students -- and why learning math is crucial in the era of fake news.

This company pays kids to do their math homework

Too many students see mathematics as difficult or irrelevant, leading to declining engagement and a growing skills gap. In Australia, half of high school graduates cannot interpret trends in data—a major vulnerability in the digital age. An experiment offering immediate cash rewards for weekly math goals increased student engagement by 70 percent. Even as the novelty fades, the hope is that curiosity and understanding become the lasting motivators.