Effectiveness of Cognitive Tutor Algebra I at scale [High school]
Pane, J. F., Griffin, B. A., McCaffrey, D. F., & Karam, R. (2013). Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 36, 127–144.
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examining5,738Students, grades9-12
Grant Competition
Review Details
Reviewed: September 2016
- Grant Competition (findings for Cognitive Tutor Algebra I)
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Meets WWC standards without reservations
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Findings
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Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CTB/McGraw-Hill Algebra Proficiency Exam |
Cognitive Tutor Algebra I vs. Business as usual |
Cohort 1 only;
|
N/A |
N/A |
No |
-- | ||
|
CTB/McGraw-Hill Algebra Proficiency Exam |
Cognitive Tutor Algebra I vs. Business as usual |
Cohort 2 only;
|
N/A |
N/A |
No |
-- |
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Sample Characteristics
Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.
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Rural, Suburban, Urban
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Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas
Study Details
Setting
The study took place in Algebra I classes in 73 public and parochial high schools from 6 states, including Texas, Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
Study sample
School-level data were available for 33 treatment group schools and 35 comparison group schools. Schools in the treatment group had an average school size of 825 students. The majority of the students were either black (41%) or white (45%). Forty-four percent were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and 9% were classified as English-learner. Schools in the comparison group had an average school size of 852 students. The majority of the students were either black (34%) or white (52%). Thirty-eight percent were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and 9% were classified as English-learner.
Intervention Group
Cognitive Tutor Algebra I (CTAI) is a technology-based, first-year algebra curriculum that uses a personalized, mastery-learning, blended-learning (a mix of online and classroom-based learning) approach designed to develop students' algebraic problem-solving skills. The course includes traditional textbooks and workbooks as well as automated software that provides self-paced, individualized instruction. It is recommended that students spend 2 days per week using the software and 3 days per week in classroom activities guided by the teacher and the textbook. The software was designed to provide students with real-world problem-solving situations and is aligned with standards established by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Students' use of the software is self-paced and the student experience is shaped by their mastery of the material.
Comparison Group
Schools in the comparison condition utilized their existing algebra curriculum, generally published by Prentice Hall, Glencoe, and McDougal Littell, during the two-year study period.
Support for implementation
Teachers received 4 days of training on the Cognitive Tutor Algebra I curriculum and instructional process, embedded in the software. Teachers attended a 3-day session prior to the start of the school year, and a 1-day training session during the school year. During the 3-day training, teachers received an introduction to the curriculum materials, tutoring software, and teacher instructional tools. Teachers are provided with guidance on how to implement the curriculum and suggestions of strategies for effective questioning techniques, as well as instruction on how to use data from the software to better tailor their instruction. During the follow-up training day in the school year, professional development staff observe classrooms and offer recommendations to improve implementation. Teachers received a set of training materials, an implementation guide, and various resources and assessments as part of the intervention group.
An indicator of the effect of the intervention, the improvement index can be interpreted as the expected change in percentile rank for an average comparison group student if that student had received the intervention.
For more, please see the WWC Glossary entry for improvement index.
An outcome is the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are attained as a result of an activity. An outcome measures is an instrument, device, or method that provides data on the outcome.
A finding that is included in the effectiveness rating. Excluded findings may include subgroups and subscales.
The sample on which the analysis was conducted.
The group to which the intervention group is compared, which may include a different intervention, business as usual, or no services.
The timing of the post-intervention outcome measure.
The number of students included in the analysis.
The mean score of students in the intervention group.
The mean score of students in the comparison group.
The WWC considers a finding to be statistically significant if the likelihood that the finding is due to chance alone, rather than a real difference, is less than five percent.
The WWC reviews studies for WWC products, Department of Education grant competitions, and IES performance measures.
The name and version of the document used to guide the review of the study.
The version of the WWC design standards used to guide the review of the study.
The result of the WWC assessment of the study. The rating is based on the strength of evidence of the effectiveness of the intervention. Studies are given a rating of Meets WWC Design Standards without Reservations, Meets WWC Design Standards with Reservations, or >Does Not Meet WWC Design Standards.
A related publication that was reviewed alongside the main study of interest.
Study findings for this report.
Based on the direction, magnitude, and statistical significance of the findings within a domain, the WWC characterizes the findings from a study as one of the following: statistically significant positive effects, substantively important positive effects, indeterminate effects, substantively important negative effects, and statistically significant negative effects. For more, please see the WWC Handbook.
The WWC may review studies for multiple purposes, including different reports and re-reviews using updated standards. Each WWC review of this study is listed in the dropdown. Details on any review may be accessed by making a selection from the drop down list.
Tier 1 Strong indicates strong evidence of effectiveness,
Tier 2 Moderate indicates moderate evidence of effectiveness, and
Tier 3 Promising indicates promising evidence of effectiveness,
as defined in the
non-regulatory guidance for ESSA
and the regulations for ED discretionary grants (EDGAR Part 77).