The Seria-Think 7 × 7 Version (STI-7×7)

The Seria-Think Instrument 7 × 7 (STI-7×7) is aimed at helping teachers — especially those of children with ADHD and learning disabilities — to enhance self-regulation and planning behavior.

Self-regulation and planning are major executive functions (EF) necessary for school achievement. These proactive processes help students consistently organize and manage their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and environment to attain academic goals. While the modality of intervention is related to math activities, the acquired cognitive functions can transfer to any subject matter. The STI-7×7 is aimed at students in grades 6–9 and older who experience difficulties in self-regulation and planning.

The STI-7×7, used with the STI Program, contains a wooden block with seven rows of holes (seven holes in each row), a set of cylinders with 13 different heights, and a measuring rod. The depths of the holes in the second row increase progressively by two units; depths in rows three to seven are mixed.

Tasks involve inserting cylinders into the holes to create lines of equal height, regularly increasing or decreasing height, an inverted-U shape, or a U shape. Problems may be presented with the wooden block turned to each of the four possible positions. The main rule is to create the line of cylinders with as few insertions as possible.

Children are instructed to be careful when inserting cylinders, plan the strategy, and avoid trial-and-error behavior; they are encouraged to use the measuring rod as often as they wish and to plan the solution.

The STI-7×7 was used to examine the effects of a Peer Mediation in Math (PM-M) program among 7th- and 9th-grade students with severe learning disabilities. Three domains were evaluated: (a) mediated learning strategies, (b) mathematical discourse, and (c) cognitive modifiability of executive functions of planning and self-regulation. The findings showed significant effects of the intervention.