Back in March, we introduced a suite of new features designed to supercharge your listening and memory skills on Glisn—like audio/video quiz prompts, free-text input, and streamlined quiz-first scenarios. These updates were a big step toward making Glisn more immersive and learner-focused.
But what’s become increasingly clear since launch is this:
These features aren’t just improving listening—they’re unlocking a new kind of mental math training.
If you’re someone who wants to sharpen your number sense, do quicker calculations in your head, or just boost overall mental agility, this post is for you. Here’s how Glisn’s newest tools are helping users turn active listening into mental math mastery.
1. Audio/Video Prompts: Train Like You Think
Mental math in the real world isn’t always written down. It’s spoken, fast, and fleeting—like hearing a question during a meeting, or mentally calculating a tip while someone talks.
Glisn’s new audio and video prompts simulate these real-world conditions. Each question begins with a full clip—no pausing, no backtracking. You listen, absorb, and then respond.
🎧 “If one box holds 24 pencils and a teacher orders 5 boxes…”
(Video ends)
❓“How many pencils in total?”
Why it works:
This strengthens your auditory working memory, helping you retain numbers and perform operations without relying on visual aids. It’s not just about getting the answer right—it’s about practicing how you arrive at it in the moment, the way you would in real life.
2. Quiz-First Scenarios: No Distractions, Just Doing
Sometimes, the hardest part of practice is just getting started. Glisn’s quiz-first entry removes the friction by placing you straight into the challenge.
Instead of navigating menus or reading long instructions, you launch right into listening and solving. This keeps your brain primed for quick recall and focused problem-solving.
Why it works:
Mental math relies on momentum. Starting strong sets the tone for a focused session. The less you have to think about what to do next, the more energy you can direct toward the task at hand.
3. Free Text Input: Real Thinking, Not Guesswork
Multiple choice has its place, but it can also invite educated guessing. Glisn’s new free-text input gives users the chance to work out answers on their own—and commit to them.
When you type out your solution—whether it’s “84”, “3.25 hours”, or “seven and a half dozen”—you’re engaging different cognitive processes than when choosing from a list. It’s active, expressive, and deeply connected to how we think through problems in our heads.
Why it works:
Typing an answer requires clarity of thought and confidence in your process. It’s the difference between recognizing a correct option and producing it from scratch. This leads to stronger internalization and better long-term retention.
Why Mental Math Needs Listening
You might not think of listening as a core math skill—but it is. Whether it’s hearing instructions, following story problems, or processing verbal data in real time, mental math is often sparked by sound.
That’s where Glisn is different. We’re not just testing how well you know math—we’re training how well you process it in the moment. And when that moment includes listening, recalling, and responding under pressure, you’re developing the exact mental agility that math fluency depends on.
A Listening-First Approach to Numbers
With these features working together, Glisn has become a space where numbers meet narratives—where arithmetic is practiced in the same fluid, real-time way it shows up in everyday life.
It’s perfect for:
- Students preparing for oral assessments or fast-paced tests
- Professionals who want quicker mental calculations in meetings or client conversations
- Lifelong learners training their brains to be more nimble and present
Ready to Test Your Listening + Math Combo?
If you’ve been using Glisn to train your memory and attention, try shifting that focus toward mental math. Choose a quiz with numerical content, listen closely, and type your answers in free-form. The results might surprise you.
Looking Ahead
This post builds on the feature deep-dive we shared in March—but it’s just the beginning of how we envision active listening intersecting with cognitive skills like math, memory, and reasoning.
Stay tuned. We’re working on even more ways to turn listening into a launchpad for learning across domains—including logic, language, and yes—numbers.
Have you used Glisn to practice mental math? What strategies are helping you improve? Drop a comment or share your experience—we’re all ears.