Effects of the New Century Education Software on AIMSweb Test Scores in Math Computation and Reading Comprehension for Lower Performing Ninth Grade Students.

摘要

This study explored the impact the New Century Education (NCE) software had on the AIMSweb basic skills test for 9th grade students at one high school in rural Georgia during the 2009--2010 school year. The problem at CHS was the NCE software used to improve lower performing students' math and reading basic skills had never been tested for effectiveness. Thirty students in the 9th grade who needed basic skills remediation based on low reading and math scores on the state's Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) were placed into a computer assisted instruction (CAI) study skills class using NCE software. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of CAI with the NCE software on AIMSweb test scores on these lower performing students. This study was backed by the behaviorist learning theory using observable aspects of learning to determine the significance after exposure to the NCE software for 27 weeks of daily exposure. A comparable control group was not available and not used in study. A dependent sample t-test was used to determine the significance of AIMSweb scores and developmental gains in math computation and reading comprehension after 27 weeks of software use. Results of the study showed that CAI using the NCE did improve math and reading skills for lower performing 9th grade students. One limitation was the lack of a control group. The results of this study provides educators with evidence for some indication regarding the effectiveness of NCE for improving student reading comprehension and math computation basic skills for lower performing students in 9th grade. Implications for positive social change include evidence supporting NCE effectiveness that could result in improving math and reading performance in lower performing students.