WWC review of this study

Writing Instruction and Technology in the Classroom: Supporting Teachers with the Drive to Write Program

Alterman, Emma; Balu, Rekha; Haider, Zeest (2019). MDRC. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED594081

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    1,542
     Students
    , grade
    9

Reviewed: March 2022

No statistically significant positive
findings
Meets WWC standards with reservations
Writing Quality outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

15.90

15.30

No

--
Show Supplemental Findings

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric - analysis subscore

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric - documents subscore

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

N/A

N/A

--

--

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric - facts subscore

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric - organization subscore

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric - outside information subscore

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

N/A

N/A

No

--

Essay writing scored with NY Regents Exam Thematic Essay rubric - task subscore

Drive to Write vs. Business as usual

0 Weeks

Full sample;
1,542 students

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.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


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    New York

Setting

The study examines a set of high schools in New York City, some of which had adopted the Drive to Write program. The schools selected for the study were all in the New Visions for Public Schools network, which provides professional development, leadership training, data infrastructure, and other services to New York City public schools.

Study sample

Students who attend these study schools are described as low-income and high-need. Specific information about sample characteristics was not provided.

Intervention Group

Drive to Write is designed to improve student writing performance by helping teachers provide students with regular, even real-time, feedback on their draft papers. This coaching and professional development program for teachers is designed and administered by New Visions for Public Schools, an educational support network that delivers professional development, data infrastructure, leadership training, certification, and other key services to New York City public schools serving students in grades 6-12. Drive to Write tools include a writing skills syllabus, a skills-based rubric, and other customized technology tools for teachers. The intervention is indented to improve student course grades and student-level writing outcomes on the Global History Regents Exam.

Comparison Group

Schools and teachers in the comparison condition maintained their typical writing and Global History instruction. Teachers received business as usual professional development and supports. Comparison students were likely exposed to instruction and support services as they had been in the past.

Support for implementation

This coaching and professional development program for teachers is delivered by New Visions for Public Schools, an educational support network that serves New York City public schools serving students in grades 6-12.

 

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