Math Techbook
Discovery Education Math Techbook™ Efficacy Study
Discovery Education is offering districts and schools an opportunity to use Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated Techbook materials for up to 18 months by participating in an efficacy study of this digital learning solution. The study is designed to examine the impact of Discovery Education’s Math Techbook on students’ attitude toward math and Algebra 1/Math 1 Integrated achievement.
Information
& Resources
McREL Study Research Coordinator:
Betsy Callaway
bcallaway@mcrel.org
303.632.5504
Discovery Education, the developer of the Math Techbook, is a global leader in standards-based digital content for K–12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.
We are seeking participants for a study.
Discovery Education has contracted with McREL to conduct an efficacy study of the Math Techbook. We are seeking middle and high schools offering 8th- or 9th-grade Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated courses to participate during the 2019–2020 school year. This study will contribute to the empirical knowledge base on the effectiveness of the Math Techbook materials and aims to provide educators with information that will help them select effective Algebra 1/Math 1 Integrated resources for their students in grades 8 and 9.
What is
Math Techbook?
Math Techbook is a digital math textbook designed to connect students to math through real-world problems worth solving. Using a balanced approach to instruction, Math Techbook combines conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application to potentially help all students develop a long-lasting mastery of mathematics.
How and when will the study occur?
For this study, we are inviting middle and high schools that have 8th- or 9th-grade Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated courses to participate. Once a school agrees to participate, McREL will randomly assign the school to either Cohort 1 or Cohort 2 groups. Although random assignment will occur at the school level, only Algebra 1 and Math 1 Integrated teachers and their students will participate in data collection for the study.
Cohort 1 schools will use Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated Techbook, including embedded curriculum and assessments, in their Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated classrooms during the 2019–2020 school year, and will then participate in professional learning and data collection activities.
Cohort 2 schools will not use the Math Techbook resources during the 2019-2020 school year (they will receive the resources and accompanying professional learning during the 2020–2021 school year) but they will participate in data collection activities in the spring semester of the 2019–2020 year.
What are the benefits of participation?
We are aware of the many demands on educators’ and students’ time, and we appreciate schools working with us to conduct this study. We offer all participating schools — all grade levels and math content areas from both treatment and delayed-treatment schools —professional learning opportunities in mathematics instruction and continuous access to the Math Techbook resources for up to 18 months as a part of study participation. In addition, Algebra I/Math 1 Integrated teachers in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 will receive up to a $450 honorarium for their time to participate in the data collection activities (if allowable within the school/district policies related to compensation). After the 2019–2020 data collection is completed, Discovery Education’s Partner Engagement team will monitor use and support the participating teachers and schools as part of the extended study experience.
Study Format
Cohort 1 Professional Learning & Data Collection Activities
Cohort 1 schools will use Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated Techbook, including embedded curriculum and assessments, in their Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated classrooms during the 2019–2020 school year, and will participate in the following professional learning and data collection activities:.
- Four professional learning (PL) sessions
- August – September 2019: Face-to-face Professional Learning Session Day 1 (6 hours)
- October – December 2019: Virtual Instructional Support Session 1 (45-60 minutes)
- January – February 2020: Face-to-face Professional Learning Session Day 2 (6 hours)
- February – March 2020: Virtual Instructional Support Session 2 (45-60 minutes)
- Complete an online survey of 15–20 minutes asking about perceptions on the quality, utility, and relevance of the program content and materials; feedback on the PL sessions; and students’ exposure to Math Techbook resources.
- Administer a pre and post version of the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) survey to all students (estimated timeframe: September 2019 and May 2020); the ATMI should take about 15 minutes to complete.
- Administer a pre and post Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated assessment (provided by McREL; approximately 45 minutes to complete) to all students (estimated timeframe: September 2019 and May 2o20).
Cohort 2 Professional Learning & Data Collection Activities
Cohort 2 schools will not use the Math Techbook resources during the 2019–2020 school year (they will receive the resources and accompanying professional learning during the 2020–2021 school year) but they will participate in the following data collection activities in the spring semester of the 2019–2020 year:
- Algebra 1/Math 1 teachers will administer a pre and post version of the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) survey to all students (estimated timeframe: September 2019 and May 2020); the ATMI should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.
- Algebra 1/Math 1 teachers will administer a pre and post Algebra 1 or Math 1 Integrated assessment (provided by McREL; approximately 45 minutes to complete) to all students (estimated timeframe: September 2019 and May 2020).
Please complete this form to indicate your interest in participating in this study. We will contact you with further information.
Discovery Education Videos & Resources
Math Techbook in Carroll County
(Click video to view.)