Learning math can be challenging, boring, or perhaps scary. Traditional intelligent tutors offer cognitive support, but they don’t provide sufficient support that addresses students’ anxiety feeling or boredom.
In a collaboration with Momoka Ikegami, our team has developed a new version of the Mindful Math Tutor by upgrading the mindful principles through the integration of “gyaru” principles – a unique Japanese cultural mindset that promotes positivity, self-respect, and frankness (originating from Japanese youth subculture from 1970-2000) (Ikegami et al., 2026). The Gyaru*Mindful math tutor employs both mindful and gyaru principles in encouraging students to try math, reducing anxiety, and promoting positivity in the interactions. Combined with problem-solving exercises with cognitive support, the tutor is designed to address both cognitive and affective state of learners during algebra learning.
