Educational Software Products Study
About the Intervention
This study evaluated 10 educational software products across reading and mathematics in grades 1, 4, 6, and Algebra I. Products included Destination Reading, Headsprout Early Reading, PLATO Focus, and Waterford Early Reading Program for first grade reading; Academy of Reading and LeapTrack for fourth grade reading; PLATO Achieve Now and Larson Pre-Algebra for sixth grade math; and Cognitive Tutor Algebra I and Larson Algebra I for high school algebra. Most products supplemented core curriculum, though PLATO Focus and Cognitive Tutor served as core curriculum. Products were implemented in diverse, predominantly low-income school districts through random assignment of volunteer teachers to treatment (using products) or control (not using products) groups. Implementation varied by product but generally involved teacher training (ranging from 2 hours to 6 days), ongoing vendor support via phone/email, and student usage in computer labs or classrooms. Recommended usage ranged from 15-45 minutes per session, 2-5 days per week. The study collected fall and spring standardized test scores over two school years (2004-2005 and 2005-2006) to measure product effectiveness.
Statistical Findings
No effect: on first grade reading scores for Destination Reading
No effect: on first grade reading scores for Headsprout
No effect: on first grade reading scores for PLATO Focus
No effect: on first grade reading scores for Waterford
No effect: on fourth grade reading scores for Academy of Reading
Positive effect: on fourth grade reading scores for LeapTrack
No effect: on sixth grade math scores for PLATO Achieve Now
No effect: on sixth grade math scores for Larson Pre-Algebra
No effect: on Algebra I scores for Cognitive Tutor
No effect: on Algebra I scores for Larson Algebra I
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
Economically DisadvantagedPrograms & Services
General Education, Title IDelivery Methods
Face-to-FaceDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s), Teachers/Instructional TeamsCitation
Campuzano, L., Dynarski, M., Rall, K. & Roberto, A. (2009). Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products: Findings From Two Student Cohorts. NCEE 2009-4041 (ED504657). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED504657.pdf.
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