Meaningful Interactions Using Technology Outside of School (MITOS): A Research‑Based Approach to Early Science Learning
Learning science is essential for all students. However, access to high‑quality science learning opportunities is not evenly distributed. For many young learners—particularly multilingual students—the academic language of science can present barriers to comprehension, engagement, and long‑term success in school. MITOS (Meaningful Interactions Using Technology Outside of School) is designed to address these challenges by supporting school districts in strengthening connections among parents, teachers, and students around early science learning.
MITOS focuses on second‑grade students, with particular attention to Spanish‑speaking learners, by supporting the development of science vocabulary and core concepts both in and out of school. The project uses an interactive, bilingual app that facilitates shared learning experiences among teachers, students, and families.
The University of Texas Foundation, the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at the University of Texas-Austin, Southern Methodist University, and AIR are partnering to design, implement, and rigorously study MITOS. The UT-Austin team, led by Dr. Doris Baker, principal investigator, and co-PIs Dr. Leticia Romero Grimaldo and Dr. Paul Toprac, is overseeing development of the MITOS app along with the SMU team, led by co-PI Dr. Eric Larson.
As the evaluation partner, AIR brings decades of experience conducting large‑scale education research, program evaluation, and evidence‑based design across diverse school and community contexts.
How MITOS Works
Teachers assign MITOS app lessons that students can complete at home or at school. Students typically engage with five short lessons per week, while parents are encouraged to ask structured questions that reinforce key science ideas and vocabulary introduced in the app.
The app is available in both English and Spanish, allowing students to learn in the language most comfortable for them while supporting academic language development. Teachers can see how students are doing through a dashboard and can give extra help if needed. The project also includes workshops for parents and training for teachers to make sure everyone knows how to use the app.
Bring MITOS to Your School District
The next phase of MITOS focuses on expanding the project to additional districts interested in strengthening early science learning and language development through friendly and engaging characters within the app.
Participating schools will be selected through a lottery process. Schools chosen for the first cohort will begin using MITOS in fall 2026, while others will serve as a comparison group and begin implementation in spring 2027.
