Improving Math Skills Using Technology
Abstract: Mathematics interventions are important for elementary school students, since students who perform below grade level in kindergarten may not be able to catch up to their peers academically, a phenomenon called the academic achievement gap. Since early mathematics instruction is important, this study investigates the impact of a computer-adaptive math program, Waterford Early Learning (WEL), on kindergarten students’ math scores. Over the course of their kindergarten school year, students who used WEL with fidelity outperformed their control counterparts who did not use the program with fidelity on all math strands of the NWEA MAP assessment, indicating that computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the classroom can benefit students’ early mathematics skills.
Presider: Vetria Byrd, Purdue University