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Effective educational solutions must be grounded in research in the learning sciences. But even when products are well-designed, the question remains whether they are delivering on their promise to move the needle on measures of student progress. When embedded in actual school settings, do we observe benefits for all types of students? This is where high-quality, rigorous efficacy research comes into play. ExploreLearning Senior Researcher, Dr. Megan Conrad, explains that research that demonstrates measurable, important outcomes by a variety of methods can provide confidence to teachers and administrators that their time and effort spent on implementation and curricular changes will help all children succeed.
What did ExploreLearning discover through research in 2023? ...A lot! The year-end research summary included five studies from teacher surveys and six quantitative studies that looked at student test performance.
A year in review of our edtech research and development pieces
The year in review for ExploreLearning edtech research delivered positive results. The proven methods and innovative technology of our math and science solutions were demonstrated time and time again through findings from rigorous studies conducted by our research team.
Four new studies explored Reflex! Reflex research shows the adaptive and game-based program provides the most effective math fact fluency solution available.
Five studies using various research methodologies showed remarkable outcomes with Frax, the elementary fractions solution. Frax research uncovers strategies that actually work.
Two new Gizmos studies provide both quantitative and qualitative feedback from teachers about the benefits of using Gizmos virtual simulations with their students. A new research summary combines third-party university researchers' external academic efficacy research using math and science Gizmos. Gizmos research shows why Gizmos work.
The most impactful research papers and findings on student growth and learning
Every research brief provides essential information for educational technology research and development. Let’s take a closer look.
Gizmos interactive math and science simulations for grades 3-12 excite curiosity and encourage critical thinking as students dig deeper into concepts through real-life problem-solving and guided learning by doing.
- Transforming Education: Enhancing & Supporting Learning with Gizmos Digital Simulations in the Classroom
Teachers from seven US and Canadian districts who had used Gizmos with their students participated in an ExploreLearning survey. Responses showed a variety of ways that Gizmos positively impact student learning. Want to know more? Download the link. - Survey Results: Gizmos Improve Student Learning, Engagement, and Motivation
ExploreLearning surveyed teachers from schools with little or no prior usage or access to Gizmos who were awarded an ExploreLearning Science Success Grant in the 2022 – 2023 school year. Are Gizmos math and science interactive simulations effective? The simple answer is yes. For more details, read the complete study.
Reflex continuously monitors math performance to help students develop math fact fluency at their own pace, while fun games and rewards boost motivation and confidence (grades 2+).
- Going for the Green Light Helps All Students Reach NWEA MAP Growth Goals in Math
This study looked at the importance of fidelity usage of Reflex, or achieving the Green Light, for improving math scores. Fluency growth and NWEA Map RIT score growth were examined from fall 2022 to spring 2023 for a group of 518 2nd-grade students in NW Illinois. - Reflex Schools See Double-Digit Math Proficiency Boost
Find out how Reflex affected math achievement levels in five schools in a Western state that implemented Reflex school-wide between 2019 and 2020 versus achievement levels of similar students in the same state with no Reflex usage. - Elementary Teachers Rate Reflex High in Usability, Student Growth, and Overall Satisfaction
Elementary school teachers who used Reflex during the year shared their experiences. Responses to the survey questions centered around overall product satisfaction, usability, and student learning outcomes were overwhelmingly favorable in all categories. Read the details. - Reflex Improves Math Fact Fluency in Elementary School Students: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial Experiment in Rural and Urban Title I Schools
A research study recently explored the impact of Reflex use on math fact fluency for students in grades 2-4 across two school districts. Students who used Reflex more often experienced significant improvement in their fact fluency compared with students who used the program less often. Find out all of the research details.
Adaptive and game-based, Frax uses the latest evidence-based research and instructional methods to create a better way to learn fractions (grades 3+).
- ESSA Tier 2 Study Reveals Frax Boosts Math Achievement
New research conducted by ExploreLearning found that elementary students using Frax made significantly greater math academic growth than non-users. The study compared 2,530 grade 3 and 4 students in a large, suburban Florida school district who used Frax during the 2021-22 school year to a statistically matched sample of non-users. - Qualitative Year-Long Frax Study Reveals Increased Fractions Knowledge and Confidence
During the 2022-2023 school year, a cohort of eight teachers and 215 students in schools across eight states participated in a year-long qualitative testing program. This study highlights the benefits of Frax in increased knowledge, improved test scores, increased enjoyment and class engagement, and increased student confidence and self-esteem. - Research Shows Frax Significantly Improves Fractions Knowledge and Confidence
A survey was done with 329 Frax Grantees from the 2021-22 school year. 99.7% of teachers surveyed observed improvement in student learning and engagement because of Frax. And that’s just the beginning! - ESSA 3 Study: Frax Foundations I Helps At-Risk 3rd & 4th Grade Students Meet Achievement Benchmarks
1,280 3rd and 4th-grade students in a large, suburban district in CA used Frax and took fall and spring Renaissance Star Math® Assessments. Frax helped the most academically at-risk students (students scoring in Level 1 in the fall) move toward academic proficiency. Read the full results.
- Frax and Reflex Power Math Achievement Gains
A study of 1,556 students found significantly larger academic gains on math diagnostic assessments for students who used both Frax and Reflex compared to non-users. While students of all achievement levels experienced significant gains, academically at-risk students who used Frax and Reflex were nearly 3x more likely than non-users to reach important growth goals!
The data for 2023 was clear. ExploreLearning provides proven math and science solutions. Our research goals for 2024 have the potential to be even more impactful. We’re excited to bring serious fun with real results to your classroom. Stay tuned!
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