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A Novel Platform for High-Quality Formative Assessment in Mathematics

Award Information
Agency: Department of Education
Branch: Institute of Education Sciences
Contract: 91990018C0017
Agency Tracking Number: 91990018C0017
Amount: $900,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 99190018R0005
Solicitation Number: 99190018R0005
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2018
Award Year: 2018
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2018-05-10
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2020-05-09
Small Business Information
2017 10th St Ste B
Boulder , CA 80302
United States
DUNS: 078732464
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Brent Milne
 (202) 245-7550
 brent.milne@simbulus.com
Business Contact
 Brent Milne
Phone: (202) 245-7550
Email: brent.milne@simbulus.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Purpose: This project team will fully develop and test Woot Math Polls, a formative assessment dashboard that converts student math work into data-driven insights to inform teacher instruction and student learning in middle and high school algebra classrooms. Research has marked a decline in math achievement around the time students take algebra in middle school. Technological innovations that produce immediate information teachers and students can use to facilitate dialogue and analysis of complex topics offer potential for improving understanding and learning.

Project Activities: During Phase I in 2017, the team developed a prototype of a dashboard that generates information on student work during algebra class. At the end of Phase I, researchers completed a pilot study with 254 students and nine teachers across grade 8 and 9 classrooms. They found that the prototype operated as intended, teachers were able to understand and use results, and students were engaged during classroom dialogue around the insights on their work. In Phase II, the team will fully develop the user interface for students and teachers, a tool to create and share Open Educational Resources (OERs), and materials to support classroom implementation. After development is complete, the researchers will carry out a pilot study to examine the usability and feasibility, fidelity of implementation, and the promise of the dashboard to inform teacher instruction and improve student learning. Participants in the study will include 20 Algebra I mathematics classrooms in 10 schools, and the students enrolled in those classrooms, with one classroom per school randomly assigned to use Woot Math as well as the dashboard and the other half assigned to a business-as-usual control. Researchers will compare student scores on pre and post algebra learning outcomes aligned to Common Core standards.

Product: In prior research and development, the project team developed Woot Math, a technology delivered intervention with interactive games and activities for algebra learning. In this project, the team will develop Woot Math Polls, a formative assessment dashboard to convert student work into data-driven insights to promote dialogue and discussion of complex algebra topics between teachers and students. The dashboard will work across all web-enabled devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart boards, and projectors. The dashboard will include a teacher tool to create, customize, share, and remix materials as OERs, which teachers will share with other teachers using the dashboard. The intervention in coordination with the dashboard will support student outcomes for Common Core standards in algebra.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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