Learning and education · 1 min read
An online course on learning math improved scores
In California middle schools, the average student in classes taking the course scored higher than 63% of the group scheduled to receive it later.
The study, in plain language
The course invited students to see math as accessible, creative, and learnable. It used short videos, reflection, and math assignments during class.
Each teacher’s classes were randomly assigned to start the course or receive it later. On the SBAC standardized test, the group that took it first did better than the group scheduled to receive it later. Students’ views of math were measured separately, with fewer responses than for the test scores.
The key idea
Classes that took the online course did better on a math test than classes scheduled to receive it later.
Something to think about
How do you talk to yourself about math: is it something you are good at, or something you can learn? That message was part of a package with videos, reflection, and assignments, and the contribution of each part is unknown.
The original study
Changing Students Minds and Achievement in Mathematics: The Impact of a Free Online Student Course
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
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