Math-Whizz Blog

At a time when requirements of No Child Left Behind are being waived for many states, we are still searching for ways to “develop, validate and scale up evidence-based approaches” to improve mathematics education. As funding streams become increasingly focused on data-driven planning and results, schools and districts across the country have been, and continue to tap technology in order to meet this challenge.  Through partnerships with districts and schools across the country (and around the world), technology has proven to provide the following benefits:

Learning Differentiation and Intervention Support

Technology enables educators to easily and efficiently identify skill gaps and provide instruction based on demonstrated abilities. This is particularly helpful when you have a class where student ability is varied. Effective technology will enable teachers to quickly see where students need reinforcement, intervention or even acceleration. This therein helps teachers provide support for differentiation such as effective and user friendly management system, spiraled and scaffolded curriculum, as well as personalization based on ability.

Accessibility and Transparency in Learning

Technology helps make tough subjects, like math, accessible to all students regardless of ability and learning style preference through interactive, engaging activities. Furthermore, it can provide teachers with the tools to present a single topic in multiple ways helping to reinforce learning and retention. Additionally, technology powers the ability for teachers (and parents) to see exactly what their student is learning, which topics are their strongest and weakest, how much time they spend in their lessons, and even how many times the student needed help answer a specific question. This information is powerful because it enables educators to make informed instructional decisions for each child, accelerating learning.

Resource Management

Educators can benefit greatly from technology that provides them with a universal tool to help students regardless of ability, lessening the need for multiple resources that can make lesson planning unfocused, particularly where ability varies. Resources that allow teachers to maintain focus and provide the support each student needs helps to keep the emphasis on learning rather than on which tool to use. School to Home Connections
Just because the bell rings, doesn’t mean learning has to stop.  Students can pick up at home where they left off at school, and vice versa. Technology enables parents to be active participants in their child’s learning which helps to support classroom learning and accelerate learning.

Gains made with Technology

Burns Elementary in Kentucky is just one of hundreds of schools that has seen positive gains though the use of technology in their math classes.  The school supplied 391 at-risk elementary school students with access to Math-Whizz through grant funding.

Following is a snapshot of the results that Burns Elementary has experienced:

• Fifth graders: 25 percent at grade level in math before; 100 percent after Math-Whizz
• Third graders: 30 percent at grade level in math before; 80 percent after Math-Whizz
• Kindergarteners: 33 percent at grade level before; 58 percent after Math-Whizz