Document Type
Report
Date of this Version
3-31-2018
Abstract
Decades of research have emphasized the need for engaging, accessible ways to help students learn fundamental mathematical concepts. Research also shows that teacher beliefs about teaching and learning have an outsized influence on the quality and effectiveness of curricular interventions. This article reports results of an independent evaluation of the i3 implementation of SunBay Digital Mathematics, a middle-school math intervention, and examines the program’s impacts on both student progress and teachers’ beliefs about math instruction. Prior studies have demonstrated the efficacy of SunBay Math for students of varied levels of prior achievement. This independent evaluation included a randomized controlled trial in 60 Florida middle schools during the 2015-16 school year and a mixed-methods implementation study. No impact on student achievement was observed overall; however, the evaluation did reveal positive impacts on teachers’ classroom practices and beliefs about the use of technology in math instruction. Inadequate implementation of instructional units and lack of impact on teachers for targeted beliefs about math instruction likely contributed to lack of overall program effects.
Project
SunBay Mathematics
Recommended Citation
Sirinides, Philip and Gray, Abigail M.. (2018). The i3 Validation of SunBay Digital Mathematics. CPRE Research Reports.
Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/cpre_researchreports/111
Date Posted: 11 January 2019
Comments
This project was supported by the US Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement’s (OII) Investing in Innovation (i3) program and the Helios Education Foundation. The authors would like to thank project PI Dr. Phil Vahey and the SRI International project team, Dr. Phil Poekert and colleagues at the UF Lastinger Center, as well as all the teachers and facilitators in participating school districts. The authors would also like to thank Mike Puma for his expert advice, and the CPRE research team members Caroline Ebby, Ryan Fink, Adrianne Flack, and Maurice Spillane.