This study examines whether SimCalc Mathworlds™ improves students’ knowledge of the algebra concepts of rate and proportionality.
Ninety-five teachers and more than 1,600 of their seventh grade students in eight regions of Texas participated in the study.
Teachers were randomly assigned to use either the SimCalc Mathworlds™ curriculum or the conventional unit on rate and proportionality.
Study authors, in consultation with an expert panel, created a 30-item test to assess student knowledge of simple and complex concepts of rate and proportionality.
A team from SRI International, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and other universities conducted the study. This team also developed the SimCalc Mathworlds™ curriculum.
What did the study authors report?
Students who used SimCalc Mathworlds™ had a better understanding of rate and proportionality than similar students who used the standard curriculum.
SimCalc Mathworlds™ had a statistically significant effect on students’ scores, particularly on knowledge of complex concepts.
The estimated effect size was 0.84, equivalent to moving a student from the 50th to the 80th percentile.