The Association Between the Use of Accelerated Math and Students Math Achievement


Book Description

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between time spent on a computer managed integrated learning system entitled Accelerated Math and traditional mathematics instruction on achievement as measured by standardized achievement tests of elementary school students. The variables of ability level, special education, grade, socioeconomic status, gender, classroom teacher, school attended, and degree of implementation were also considered. The population consisted of 542 students who were sixth, seventh, and eighth graders during the 2003-2004 school year and took the TerraNova each year. Data were gathered that covered the three-year period beginning in 2001 and ending in 2004. A t test for independent samples, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to identify the relationship between variables. The researchers investigation of the relationship between Accelerated Math use and mathematics achievement might assist educators in planning for use of technology as a supplement to traditional instruction. The information gathered from this research might be beneficial to other school systems seeking information on the relationship between a computermanaged integrated learning system and math achievement. The findings in this study were mixed. The use of Accelerated Math was associated with no effects and negative effects depending on the degree of implementation. The findings indicated that there were measurable differences in the performance of students who received Accelerated Math compared to students who did not receive Accelerated Math. Students who did not receive Accelerated Math had higher overall scores than students participating in the intervention. The study indicated that gender, special education, and ability groups did not have a significant interaction with the intervention (participation in Accelerated Math). The research revealed that there was a socioeconomic status interaction intervention with prof.




Evaluating the Impact of Supplemental Online Math Instruction and Intervention


Book Description

This study investigated the impact of the supplemental online math instruction and intervention program TenMarks.com on student achievement as measured by assessment scores in a school in California's Central Valley. Sixty-three students from two different fifth grade classes participated in the study. Both classes were taught by the author. The scores on the standard curriculum chapter test and Ten Marks.com post-test of students who supplemented their in-class instruction with Ten Marks.com were compared to the scores of students who did not use Ten Marks.com during the course of the study. The results found no statistically significant difference in chapter test scores from the standard curriculum. However, significantly higher achievement was found on TenMarks.com post-test scores for those who used the online program.







Why Do I Need to Know Math?


Book Description

Many students enter college unprepared for the study of mathematics and other subjects that require a strong math background. As a result, students have difficulty applying math concepts in non-math courses and frequently ask the question “Why do I need to know math?” Institutions of higher education must find ways to support these students in order to improve retention and graduation rates. In this study, an instructional intervention called Supplemental Instruction (SI) is used to help students to link the application of math concepts to their chosen discipline of study. SI is a tutoring approach that targets at-risk courses versus at-risk students; removing the remedial stigma experienced by many at-risk students. SI programs consist of voluntary tutoring sessions that occur weekly throughout an academic term and are facilitated by an SI Leader. This SI Leader is an expert in the topic area covered by the SI program and also attends all classes with the enrolled students. This study employed a qualitative research approach designed to capture an understanding of the lived experiences of engineering technology students who participate in a SI program focused on connecting important math concepts to complex engineering applications. This Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis study incorporated the use of individual interviews to collect rich data capturing the lived experiences of the participants. The qualitative data collected and analyzed sheds light on the experiences of students who have participated in this SI program.




Handbook of Research on STEM Education


Book Description

The Handbook of Research on STEM Education represents a groundbreaking and comprehensive synthesis of research and presentation of policy within the realm of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. What distinguishes this Handbook from others is the nature of integration of the disciplines that is the founding premise for the work – all chapters in this book speak directly to the integration of STEM, rather than discussion of research within the individual content areas. The Handbook of Research on STEM Education explores the most pressing areas of STEM within an international context. Divided into six sections, the authors cover topics including: the nature of STEM, STEM learning, STEM pedagogy, curriculum and assessment, critical issues in STEM, STEM teacher education, and STEM policy and reform. The Handbook utilizes the lens of equity and access by focusing on STEM literacy, early childhood STEM, learners with disabilities, informal STEM, socio-scientific issues, race-related factors, gender equity, cultural-relevancy, and parental involvement. Additionally, discussion of STEM education policy in a variety of countries is included, as well as a focus on engaging business/industry and teachers in advocacy for STEM education. The Handbook’s 37 chapters provide a deep and meaningful landscape of the implementation of STEM over the past two decades. As such, the findings that are presented within provide the reader with clear directions for future research into effective practice and supports for integrated STEM, which are grounded in the literature to date.




The Effects of Accelerated Mathematics on Self-Efficacy and Growth Mindset


Book Description

Student's educational investment decisions are influenced by their beliefs about the returns to study effort and their chances of academic success. This highlights the importance of studying the effects of school policies on students' beliefs about their ability to learn and achieve. To this end, we examine the effects of accelerated math on students' self-efficacy and growth mindset, using survey measures of these beliefs. We argue, based on economic theory, that effects on growth mindset should be considered as more important relative to those on self-efficacy. We examine the effects of accelerated math empirically using a difference-in-differences design and find negative effects on both belief measures. However, the effects on growth mindset are much smaller, and in some analyses indistinguishable from zero, although these effects are larger in magnitude for female students. In exploring potential mechanisms, we find accelerated math leads to a precipitous drop in math course grades, with no similar drop in math test performance. Our findings suggest that there may be negative effects of acceleration on important student beliefs, but these effects appear modest. Our work motivates further study of the information environment surrounding these students at the time of acceleration.




The Effect of Algebra Support Classes on EOCT Scores and SGP Data


Book Description

Schools are having to find innovative ways to increase the instructional time in the school day to not only address deficiencies in student' mathematical knowledge but to also increase the academic rigor and prepare students for college and careers. The most popular approach is double-dosing, where students give up an elective class in order to take an additional mathematics class. Whereas this is a popular approach, there have not been very many studies on the effectiveness of this practice. This study adds to the body of knowledge on double-dosing by analyzing the effectiveness of the support class through student achievement on the state End of Course Coordinate Algebra test as well as through Student Growth Percentiles. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used for all analyses. Criterion-Referenced Competency Test scores were used as the covariate. The participants in this study were first-time freshmen enrolled in Coordinate Algebra in an urban district of approximately 25,000 total students. Data indicated that the interaction between support classes and school year were trending toward significance for both the End of Course scores (p = .056) as well as Student Growth Percentiles (p = .068). In the second year of the study, students enrolled in the Mathematics Support class scored higher on the End of Course test and had higher Student Growth Percentiles. Additionally, there was a significant main effect for support class on the Student Growth Percentiles (p = .028). Students in the support class did achieve significantly higher growth than students who were not concurrently enrolled in the support class. Whereas increases in mathematical growth do not necessarily result in increases in achievement scores, as evidenced by the data in this study, the Mathematics Support classes are effective in increasing student learning in mathematics.