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Research Based Results
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The following
are excerpts are from research conducted by an independent
company evaluating the effectiveness of Succeed
in: Math!® software
in the nation’s fifth largest school district. The research
was published in June 2005. |
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To obtain detailed
information on the implementation and evaluate the success
of the web based tutorial for the math [Succeed in:
Math!®] HSPE
[high school proficiency exam]…data collection, analyses
and fieldwork were undertaken by Shepperson & Associates
research team… |
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In addition to the…self-assessment,
the tutorial includes 53 web based tutorial lessons separated
into three tiers, each consisting of lesson modules, including
seven lessons in tier 1, a total of nineteen lessons in
tier 2 and twenty-seven lessons in tier 3, for a total of
53 lessons. The web-based tutorials were designed…
by Interactive Technologies of Nevada (ITN).
This local software development company specializes in designing
computer assisted instruction and training programs.
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Technology |
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The tutorial is available
on the Internet using a web server that provides dynamic interactive
web pages using ASP technology to construct remediation modules
and practice tests similar to the HSPE in math. Additional
multimedia instructions are provided using FLASH technology.
Together, the technology generates an interactive, web-based
tutorial. Because the technology is available via the Internet,
it is potentially accessible to all students in all districts… |
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Design |
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The tutorials align
with NCTM [National Council of Teachers of Mathematics] standards
regarding technology’s role in the mathematics classroom.
“The teacher should ensure that the technology is enhancing
students’ mathematical thinking.” The web based
tutorial targets remediation. Once signed on, a student takes
a practice test…. that summarizes his/her performance.
Based on this diagnosis, a student is prescribed topic area
tutorials. Additional diagnoses with each topic trigger interactive
remediation and specific learning modules that include instruction,
using voiceover and video feedback. Quiz items are embedded
within the learning modules and if students continue to demonstrate
areas of weakness, additional examples, instruction and quizzing
continue until the student shows adequate progress. Students
are required to score a minimum of 75% in order to proceed
to the next module. |
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After completing all
prescribed modules, a student has the option to take a 36
multiple choice question post-test similar to the pre-test.
These results are used to assess proficiency or repeat remediation. |
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Targeted student populations |
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Students targeted
were those who failed the…HSPE in math. Intervention
was intended to augment normal classroom instruction and provide
students with opportunities to gain mathematical knowledge
using web technology both in and outside of the classroom. |
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The program also targets
special education and ELL students…special educational
math facilitators were specifically provided training to assist
these students. Informal feedback suggests that this
format has been popular with special education students and
their teachers report feeling greater confidence in preparing
their students. |
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The system is also considered valuable
in outlying and rural schools… |
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Program Outcomes for Students and Teachers |
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Student Outcomes.
Teachers report positive student reaction to the web-based
tutorial [Succeed in: Math!®].
They feel strongly that students are accessing the site from
outside of school. They also believe the tutorial
is an important tool for improving student performance on
the math HSPE. Teachers believe that the tutorial complements
rather than supplants their instruction and think the differentiated
instruction benefits students. |
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The …funding
proposal indicated potential impact on student learning to
be that “students will have increased math knowledge
after completion of the tutorials, which will result in an
anticipated increased pass rate on the…HSPE for mathematics”. |
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The study group [students
using Succeed in: Math!®
software] was…analyzed using results from the February
2005 math HSPE. District wide, only 23.7% of the 12th
grade students passed compared to 42.9% of the study group
who had completed the tutorial. This indicates better
pass rates for the tutored students… |
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Teacher Outcomes.
Teacher outcomes are largely based on interviews of…teachers
who received training and implemented the tutorial in their
schools. |
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Unanimously,
these teachers felt that the web-based tutorial [Succeed
in: Math!®]
was an important supplemental tool to help them prepare students
for the math HSPE. |
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Teachers indicated that
advantages of the web based tutorial program were:
1. It addressed all content areas on the math HSPE
2. It provided students with step-by-step explanations
3. It provided students with work appropriate to different
skill levels, from basic to more advanced
4. It offered different modalities to teach math concepts
5. It allowed students to prepare for the exam outside of
class
6. It offered immediate feedback
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Program Alignment with Best Practices
Nationwide |
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The tutorial provides
a supplement to regular instruction, consistent with prior
findings of most successful computer-aided instructional methods.
The adaptive nature of the tutorial is consistent with successful
approaches used in other online courses. The site
delivers instruction by mixed mode presentation of aural and
visual information, a proven method for learning scientific
content. |
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Best Practices in Educational Technology |
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Because of its mixed-mode
presentations (visual and aural), the web-based tutorial [Succeed
in: Math!®]
can present information in different formats. In addition,
the software offers presentation sequencing and example difficulty.
It can select examples, explanations and problems
to be completed more precisely depending on the student’s
assessed understanding. The software also provides for multiple
assessments to ensure student understanding and proficiency…the
web-based tutorial is popular with teachers and students.
It follows state standards and instructs on test proficiencies,
this providing a useful instructional guide. |
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The…web based
math tutorial is an exception. While most states offer practice
test and some self-assessment, few states have full tutorials
for math proficiency tests. The web based tutorial
[Succeed in: Math!®]
represents many of the strengths of computer-aided instruction.
Accessibility using the Internet makes the tutorial and self-assessment
easily available to schools and districts, nearly all of which
have Internet-accessible computers and labs. It can also be
connected to the district instructional data management system
(IDMS) to provide web based integrated data management, allowing
ongoing assessment of student achievement... |
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