Project Activities
In Phase I, we developed and tested a functional prototype of the Tyto Online: Statistics & Probability unit for 6th grade, including two complete, standards-aligned Storylines (“Catter in the Chai” and “Mathing in the Middle”) and newly built math mechanics for dot plots, histograms, tallies, and 3D manipulatives supporting mean and fair-share concepts. We created accompanying Student Strategy Guides, a comprehensive Teacher Guide, and expanded the teacher dashboard to visualize student graphing responses. Through iterative R&D with WestEd—including expert review, a usability study, and a classroom feasibility study—we refined mechanics, narrative design, and supports for discourse and accessibility. The feasibility study with 124 students demonstrated strong engagement and a statistically significant 20% gain on the math assessment. We also prototyped GenAI-powered discourse tools, confirming their potential to deepen student reasoning and streamline teacher facilitation.
In Phase II, the team will complete development of Tyto Online: Statistics & Probability and evaluate it in school settings. Students will engage with interactive, story-driven quests set in a 3D game environment, tackling authentic challenges like helping a business owner analyze customer data to grow their café. These quests integrate data collection, visualization, and interpretation, immersing students in real-world contexts to deepen their understanding of statistics and data science.
Development will add statistics and probability mechanics (interactive graphing, modeling, and 3D manipulatives), an enhanced discourse system with student explanations and AI-prompted follow-ups, a teacher dashboard with formative insights, and student/teacher guides and professional development. Co-design cycles with students, teachers, and subject-matter experts will inform iterative improvements.
The research plan includes a classroom feasibility study to examine usability, fidelity, discourse, and teacher experience, followed by a randomized controlled pilot across multiple schools to estimate impacts on student learning in statistics and probability, engagement, and attitudes, as well as the quality of classroom discourse. Analyses of usage data, observations, assessments, surveys, and interviews will guide refinements and document implementation conditions. The project will produce a field-ready, evidence-based product and findings to support scale-up through licensing and direct adoption.
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
