effectiveness of reading and math software products findings from the first student cohort mark...

Post on 21-Jan-2016

218 Views

Category:

Documents

0 Downloads

Preview:

Click to see full reader

TRANSCRIPT

Effectiveness of Reading and Math Software Products

Findings From the First Student Cohort

Mark Dynarski

May 2007

Effectiveness of Reading and Math Software Products

Findings From the First Student Cohort

Mark Dynarski

May 2007

2

Study Synopsis Study Synopsis

Design– Nine reading and six math software products in 132 volunteer

schools– Treatment teachers could use products, control teachers could

not

Implementation– Companies provided training and other types of support– Study purchased various upgrades and hardware components

Key Findings– Test scores at the end of the school year were not statistically

different– Few relationships between effects and implementation factors

Design– Nine reading and six math software products in 132 volunteer

schools– Treatment teachers could use products, control teachers could

not

Implementation– Companies provided training and other types of support– Study purchased various upgrades and hardware components

Key Findings– Test scores at the end of the school year were not statistically

different– Few relationships between effects and implementation factors

3

Study Size Study Size

Districts Schools Teachers Students Grade 1 14 46 169 2,619 Grade 4 11 43 118 2,265 Grade 6 10 28 81 3,136 Algebra 10 23 71 1,404 Total 45 140 439 9,424

Unduplicated 33 132 439

9,424

4

Implementation FrameworkImplementation Framework

Teacher training [O, R]

Amount of use [I, R]

Technical difficulties and teacher support [I]

Teacher training [O, R]

Amount of use [I, R]

Technical difficulties and teacher support [I]

Student and teacher roles [O]

– Teaching approach [O]– On-task behavior [O]– Consistency with

suggested use of products [I]

Student and teacher roles [O]

– Teaching approach [O]– On-task behavior [O]– Consistency with

suggested use of products [I]

Key: O indicates observations, R records, I interviews

5

General Implementation FindingsGeneral Implementation Findings

Nearly all teachers received training and believed it prepared them to use products

Difficulties using hardware mostly were minor

Total use of software products higher in treatment classrooms

When products are used– teachers more likely to be “facilitators” and students more

likely to work on their own– more students on task in math classrooms

Nearly all teachers received training and believed it prepared them to use products

Difficulties using hardware mostly were minor

Total use of software products higher in treatment classrooms

When products are used– teachers more likely to be “facilitators” and students more

likely to work on their own– more students on task in math classrooms

6

Difference in Technology Use in Treatment and Control Classrooms: First Grade

Difference in Technology Use in Treatment and Control Classrooms: First Grade

1

2222

3

3

4

55

5

6

6

6 7

7

8

8

888

9

999

9

9

10

10

10

1111

12

13

1313

1414

14

1414

14

-25

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

TeacherReportedHours

Numbers indicate districts and each point represents a school

7

Effects on Classroom Practices Effects on Classroom Practices

Percent Difference: Teacher as Facilitator

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

First Grade

FourthGrade

Sixth Grade

Algebra

Note: * Significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

*

*

* *

8

Effects on Classroom Practices Effects on Classroom Practices

Percent Difference: Students On Task

Note: * Significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

0%

10%

20%

30%

**

XFirst Grade

FourthGrade

Sixth Grade

Algebra

9

Estimating EffectsEstimating Effects

Outcome: spring test score

3-level model (students, classrooms, schools)

3-level model extended to estimate effects of conditions and practices (implementation)– interactions of treatment effect and classroom

and school characteristics

Outcome: spring test score

3-level model (students, classrooms, schools)

3-level model extended to estimate effects of conditions and practices (implementation)– interactions of treatment effect and classroom

and school characteristics

10

Effect Sizes By School: First Grade Effect Sizes By School: First Grade

1

2

2

2

2

3

3

4

5

5

5

66

6

77

8

8

88

8

9

9

9

9

9

9

10

10

10

11

11

121313

13

14

14

14

14

14

14

-1.00

-0.50

0.00

0.50

1.00

Numbers indicate districts and each point represents a school

11

Test Scores: First Grade Test Scores: First Grade

SAT-9 Reading Score

-0.05

0.05

0.15

0.25

OverallScore

EffectSize

Note: * Significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

Soundsand Letters

SentenceReading

WordReading

12

Test Scores: First Grade Test Scores: First Grade

Test of Word Reading Efficiency Score

-0.10

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

OverallScore

PhonemicDecoding Efficiency

Sight WordEfficiency

EffectSize

Note: None of the effect sizes is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

13

Interactions: First GradeInteractions: First Grade

Larger effects

– More experienced teachers

– Smaller student-teacher ratio

Larger effects

– More experienced teachers

– Smaller student-teacher ratio

No relationship

– Product usage– Problems getting access– Technical difficulties– Computer specialist in

school– Professional development

last year on using technology

– Poverty, urban area, African-American students, Hispanic, special education students

No relationship

– Product usage– Problems getting access– Technical difficulties– Computer specialist in

school– Professional development

last year on using technology

– Poverty, urban area, African-American students, Hispanic, special education students

14

Test Scores: Fourth Grade Test Scores: Fourth Grade

SAT-10 Reading Score

-0.10

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

Overall Score

Vocabulary Word Study Skills

Comprehension

Note: None of the effect sizes is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

X

EffectSize

15

Interactions: Fourth GradeInteractions: Fourth Grade

Larger effects

– Product usage

Larger effects

– Product usage

No relationship

– Problems getting access– Technical difficulties– Computer specialist in

school– Professional development

last year on using technology

– Poverty, urban area

No relationship

– Problems getting access– Technical difficulties– Computer specialist in

school– Professional development

last year on using technology

– Poverty, urban area

16

Test Scores: Sixth Grade Test Scores: Sixth Grade

SAT-10 Math Score

-0.100.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

Overall Score

Procedures Problem Solving

Note: None of the effect sizes is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

EffectSize

17

Interactions: Sixth GradeInteractions: Sixth Grade

No statistically significant relationships No statistically significant relationships

18

Test Scores: Algebra Test Scores: Algebra

ETS Algebra Exam

-0.30

-0.10

0.10

0.30Overall Score Concepts Processes Skills

Note: None of the effect sizes is significantly different from zero at the 0.05 level

EffectSize

19

Interactions: AlgebraInteractions: Algebra

Smaller effects when teachers had technical difficulties

Smaller effects when teachers had technical difficulties

20

Study TradeoffsStudy Tradeoffs

15 reading and math products studied– Many products and types of technology not in the

study

Precision to detect small effect sizes– Average effect reported

Experimental design – Teachers have not used these products in

current classrooms

15 reading and math products studied– Many products and types of technology not in the

study

Precision to detect small effect sizes– Average effect reported

Experimental design – Teachers have not used these products in

current classrooms

21

Second Year StudySecond Year Study

10 products, data from 77 schools, treatment and control teachers with new cohort of students

Will study relationship between teacher experience using products and effects

Effects reported for products

10 products, data from 77 schools, treatment and control teachers with new cohort of students

Will study relationship between teacher experience using products and effects

Effects reported for products

top related