The Tech Edvocate

Top Menu

  • Advertisement
  • Apps
  • Home Page
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Home Tech2
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • Lynch Educational Consulting
  • My Account
  • My Speaking Page
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Our Brands
  • Page Example
  • Privacy Policy
  • Protected Content
  • Register
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shop
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Signup
  • Start Here
    • Governance
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • The Edvocate
  • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
  • Topics
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Edupedia
    • Post a Job
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • Pedagogue
  • School Ratings

logo

The Tech Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Lynch Educational Consulting
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Edupedia
    • Post a Job
    • The Edvocate Podcast
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • Pedagogue
  • School Ratings
  • How Machine Learning Will Transform the Classroom

  • Milestones of Development: Everything You Need to Know

  • Partnerships Between IT and Physical Security Improves Campus Security

  • Tips for Using Twitter in the Classroom

  • Writing and Reading Goals For the First Grade: Everything You Need to Know

  • Trends That Will Help Your EdTech Startup Succeed

  • Why Cultural Appropriation is Wrong

  • Differentiated Reading Instruction: Everything You Need to Know

  • 13 Ways to Differentiate Instruction

  • Assessing Your Students’ Reading Progress: Everything You Need to Know

EdTech NewsHigher Education EdTech
Home›EdTech News›Try again: Why online courses might not be the best way to teach students who are at risk of algebra failure

Try again: Why online courses might not be the best way to teach students who are at risk of algebra failure

By Matthew Lynch
July 6, 2016
0
Spread the love

This article was written by Nichole Dobo

Simply sitting a teenager down in front of a computer to click through online lessons – in a class he or she has already failed – doesn’t seem to work, according to new research.

The study sought to determine if online courses are successful for catching up ninth graders who have flunked algebra. More than 1,200 students in Chicago Public Schools who had failed algebra in 2011or 2012 were assigned randomly to make up the credit through either an online or a teacher-led class, in a study by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research.

Algebra is a stumbling block for many students. Those who fail it risk an avalanche of other failures in high school. In Chicago, one out of three ninth graders fails algebra one or both semesters. And just 15 percent of those who fail this subject make it to graduation four years later.

“The perception of summer school is [that] it is watered down. And there is not much evidence that students learned a lot, in online or face-to-face.”

Jessica Heppen, a managing researcher at AIR and lead author of a study on algebra makeup classes

This makes it particularly important – and difficult – to reach these students with effective makeup lessons. And online classes, at least the design used by Chicago schools, appear to make things worse, not better.

“It’s certainly consistent with the field’s general consensus that putting at-risk kids in front of a computer isn’t going to be effective,” said Jessica Heppen, a managing researcher at AIR and the lead author of the study.

Thirty-one percent of the online students passed, as opposed to 53 percent of those who took the in-person course. Students in the online course fared worse on an independent test, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), as well. And online students “reported significantly lower enjoyment and confidence in math.” They did, however, say they were more comfortable with computers.

This is bad news for both methods: No matter the format, students in credit-recovery courses are less likely to earn credit in subsequent courses and to remain on-track for graduation.

The company that provided the online courses in Chicago, Fuel Education (a subsidiary of the education giant K12 Inc.), had this to say: “As a company, we have learned a lot about online and blended curriculum and instruction in the last five years. While there is no silver bullet solution for any student, we will continually work to incorporate what we learn into our offerings and our recommended implementation practices in order to improve the student experience in online and blended learning.”

The research from AIR presents a lot of high-quality information for educators and academics to think about. And it offers more questions for follow-up studies.

“We really are just scratching the surface here,” Heppen said.

For example, the AIR researchers didn’t set out to measure blended learning, which combines online work with some measure of in-person contact and student control over the lesson. But they got some data that suggests it would be useful to study that strategy. They discovered anecdotal evidence that online classes where a tutor provided some of the math instruction were more helpful than those that let students fend for themselves, according to Heppen.

Unlike the teacher-led course, the online class did not deviate from the mission at hand – algebra. It did not give students lessons in pre-algebra concepts or help them with material they didn’t know.

In other words, the technology used didn’t provide a custom-fit lesson that could fill in the Swiss-cheese holes. Online courses exist that could identify these weaknesses and provide students with remedial help, but this program didn’t do that. In a subject like math, which builds upon previous lessons, that missing foundation would make it a frustrating – and probably unproductive – experience for students.

This raises another conundrum: If the teacher-led courses didn’t spend as much time teaching algebra – because they spent a significant amount of class time on other math areas – should students get credit for passing an algebra class? “The perception of summer school is [that] it is watered down,” Heppen said. “And there is not much evidence that students learned a lot, in online or face-to-face.”

This story was written by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for our newsletter to get a weekly update on blended learning. Read the original article.

 

Nichole Dobo is a reporter and the blended learning fellow. Her work has been published in the Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic’s online edition, Mind/Shift, WHYY NewsWorks, Slate and in McClatchy newspapers.

TagsEdtechedtechchatelearningSTEAMSTEM
Previous Article

How should online teacher programs be judged?

Next Article

Newer studies say online instruction neither harms ...

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechInfluencers

    Trailblazers in Edtech: Angela Maiers

    September 21, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech NewsHigher Education EdTech

    How should online teacher programs be judged?

    July 6, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech NewsHigher Education EdTech

    Rules and regulation could strangle online learning

    September 22, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech News

    Is Boston poised to be the ed-tech capital?

    February 4, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    10 Classroom Uses for Minecraft

    October 29, 2017
    By Matthew Lynch
  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    Why "anti-tech" teachers irk me

    December 8, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Search

Login & Registration

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • How Machine Learning Will Transform the Classroom

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 27, 2023
  • Milestones of Development: Everything You Need to Know

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 27, 2023
  • Partnerships Between IT and Physical Security Improves Campus Security

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 26, 2023
  • Tips for Using Twitter in the Classroom

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 26, 2023
  • Writing and Reading Goals For the First Grade: Everything You Need to Know

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 26, 2023
  • 20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 11, 2017
  • 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 4, 2017
  • Why Mobile Technology Enhances Instruction

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 14, 2016
  • 7 Roles for Artificial Intelligence in Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 5, 2018
  • Digital Literacy is the Most Important Lifelong Learning Tool

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 30, 2017
  • Where to Find Dyslexia Support for Adults - Case Training Services | Registered Charity #1051587
    on
    August 2, 2022

    11 Must-Have Apps and Tools for Dyslexic Students

    […] recorders Electronic flashcards ...
  • What Types Of Posts Can You Make In Google Classroom? - The Tech Edvocate - Gossip ...
    on
    July 31, 2022

    How to Integrate Google Classroom with the Power of YouTube

    […] of your posts. ...
  • Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Google Classroom - The Tech Edvocate - Gossip Buz
    on
    July 31, 2022

    Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Google Classroom

    […] Answers to Frequently ...
  • 10 Important YouTube Channels For Teachers - Kiiky Wealth
    on
    July 29, 2022

    10 Incredibly Useful YouTube Channels for Teachers

    […] Thetechedvocate.org – 10 Incredibly ...
  • Teaching Learners Digital Content Curation Skills - Fab Lab Connect
    on
    June 30, 2022

    Teaching Learners Digital Content Creation Skills

    […] Read More… […]

EdTech Policy & Reform

  • Curriculum & InstructionEdTech Policy & ReformEducation Leadership

    Why We Should Leave Behind the Cookie-cutter Education

    Spread the loveChange appears to be the only “constant” factor in the educational field. However, what happens when a more significant shift becomes necessary? To provide students with the best ...
  • Adaptive LearningCurriculum & InstructionDigital & Mobile TechnologyDigital Age TeachersEarly Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & ReformInstructional Technology

    Exploring New Ideas: Student-Driven Remote Learning

    Spread the loveRemote learning is taking its toll on our students. They miss the social side of school. Not seeing their classmates or teachers is leading to nervousness, anxiety, and ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyEdTech & InnovationEdTech Policy & Reform

    Implementing Education Technology by Pursuing Technology Education

    Spread the loveTechnology is used for many great things in our world. It’s a powerful tool when used correctly. As such, this powerful tool can be used to transform learning.  ...
  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    How Much Bias Is Okay in Your School?

    Spread the loveThe algorithm has proven itself to be a handy tool when it comes to solving education problems. It’s also not without bias.  You may be wondering how some ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Complement Good Pedagogy, Not Attempt to Replace It

    Spread the loveThe newest generation of edtech is downright amazing; it’s no wonder that various education stakeholders might be a little excited about its potential to transform education. However, edtech ...

EdTech Startups & Businesses

  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Trends That Will Help Your EdTech Startup Succeed

    Spread the loveIf you want to thrive in the destiny of learning and self, shorten, tailor, and gamify. The bulk of EdTech businesses believes that digitizing conventional learning methods and ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    How to Sell Your Edtech Product

    Spread the loveDevelop a profile of the perfect consumer, target clients that meet that description, and plan on a long sales cycle. Selling to schools takes a different sales process ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Edtech Companies Can Learn What Not to Do From Delta Airlines

    Spread the loveIt seems that edtech companies still have a lot to learn about their business models and practices. With that being said, there is a lot they can learn ...
  • Digital LeadershipEdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Collegix

    Spread the love This is a comprehensive ERP solution for colleges and universities that provides modular, totally integrated learners services, finance, HR, and advancement. Collegix provides online and offline workarounds ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Startups & BusinessesProduct Reviews

    Product Review of Discovery Education

    Spread the love Discovery Education is a big player in EdTech. The company has established itself as the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content, and professional development for ...

Digital Equity

  • Digital Equity

    How to Create an Equitable Digital Culture in K–12

    Spread the loveDigital equity is vital in our schools. After all, it can help close the achievement gap. However, there is one prevalent problem concerning digital equity. That is the problem ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityDigital Literacy

    Teaching Learners Digital Content Creation Skills

    Spread the loveContent curation is nothing new and has always been a coveted skill. It has been this way for hundreds of years — think of art galleries, museums, or ...
  • Digital & Mobile TechnologyDigital EquityEdTech & Innovation

    Promoting Online Access With Hotspots, Laptops, and Planning

    Spread the loveWhen becoming a leader in the field of education, it is important to consider equity. Some students may not have access to devices or the internet from their ...
  • Digital EquityDigital Leadership

    How Can You Assess the Tech Needs of Your Students Outside of School?

    Spread the loveToday, I received an email from the middle school principal in Los Angeles. She explained to me that the school that she ran was in one of the ...
  • Digital Equity

    It Is Time for the Edtech Industry to Stop Denying Its Equity and Race Problem

    Spread the loveThe EdTech industry is dominated by white employees, white leaders, and white entrepreneurs. If you doubt this statement, just attend an Edtech conference. Admittedly, educators and others don’t ...

EdTech Futures

  • EdTech Futures

    The IT Investments Securing the Future of Higher Education

    Spread the loveThe future of higher education still seems uncertain after the massive disruptions of the last two years. Universities and colleges are struggling with budget difficulties amid cybersecurity threats. ...
  • Adaptive LearningAssistive TechnologyEdTech FuturesInstructional TechnologyTeachers

    Will AI Replace Teachers?

    Spread the loveThrough the years, robots have taken over many jobs. First, they replaced horses and wagons and horses and plows, then they started to replace people. A few examples ...
  • EdTech FuturesHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechUncategorized

    The Future of Higher Education Must Avoid Returning to the Past

    Spread the loveColleges and universities can make higher education safer, smarter, and more accessible through automation and collaboration technologies – if they commit to it. Author: John Hulen, Director of ...
  • EdTech FuturesOnline Learning & eLearning

    IT Trends To Watch As Higher Education Moves Into a New Decade

    Spread the loveEdtech couldn’t have hoped for a better launch into the new decade than the push the industry received from COVID-19. Even the most tech-resistant institutions and individuals have ...
  • EdTech Futures

    4 Emerging EdTech Trends in 2022

    Spread the loveCovid-19 has not only changed education as we know it, but it has forced education technology (EdTech) to up its game. EdTech has been crucial since the start of this ...

About Us

Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact Us

The Tech Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
[email protected]

Follow us

Copyright © 2023 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.