Elementary Students Improve Three Grade-Level Equivalents with Pearson's
SuccessMaker
K-8 Digital Learning Environment Harnesses Technology to Close the Achievement Gap
Chandler, AZ (PRWEB) March 2, 2010 -- Elementary math students are improving as much as three grade-level
equivalents over the course of one school year thanks to Pearson's SuccessMaker, an adaptive digital learning
environment for K-8 students, according to the latest independent efficacy research from Gatti Evaluation, Inc.
The Gatti Evaluation study shows fifth-grade students learning with SuccessMaker gained 2.9 grade-equivalent
levels and third-grade students improved by 1.8 grade equivalents on the Group Mathematics Assessment and
Diagnostic Evaluation (GMADE) from pre- to post-test. The average growth rate expected per year is one grade
equivalent.
All subgroups of students, including those of varying ethnicities, English proficiencies, and math ability levels,
demonstrated significant gains in achievement with the educational software. Most notably, students with lower
math ability made the most substantial gains, indicating that SuccessMaker actually helps to close the
achievement gap.
"Our research confirmed that students who supplemented their core math studies with SuccessMaker saw
statistically significant gains over the course of the one-year study, specifically in the areas of math concepts and
communication, operations and computation, and process and applications. Additionally, we found that
SuccessMaker students not only performed well across the board, but also outperformed their peers learning with
print-based math supplements," said Guido Gatti, principal investigator of Gatti Evaluation study.
Gatti also noted that fifth-grade students' gains were particularly meaningful because of the magnitude of the
effect, as evidenced by SuccessMaker students increasing an average of 6.6 points more on the GMADE than
their peers using print-based supplemental math programs.
SuccessMaker's personalized instruct