Reports and Briefs

Published in the Journal of Research on Technology in Education, this manuscript examines associations between the goals teachers set for their students’ use of math personalized learning software and both teacher and student attitudes.

In partnership with the Utah STEM Action Center and the Utah State Board of Education (USBE), the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC) examined associations between myriad software implementation practices and student achievement outcomes.

UEPC identified associations between teachers’ goals for students’ math software use and teachers’ perceptions of the value of software, in partnership with STEM Action Center.

Along with our partners as STEM Action Center, UEPC looked at the associations between student attitudes toward math and math learning software use.

This research brief, prepared in partnership with STEM Action Center, looks at associations between math learning software usage and personalized, competency-based instructional strategies.

In partnership with STEM Action Center, UEPC shares best practices for math blended learning environments based on teacher and student survey data.

This report was prepared for the STEM Action Center in support of the K-12 Math Personalized Learning Software Grant Program. The results of this quasi-experimental study suggest that Utah students who, on average, used IXL for 20 minutes or more per week in 2020-2021 performed better on statewide math assessments than students who did not use IXL. This finding is consistent with IXL’s implementation fidelity and usage recommendations which indicate that, for “optimal usage,” students should reach proficiency in at least two skills per week.

In this study, the Utah Education Policy Center provides evidence that students who are low-income use math personalized learning software for less time than students who are not low-income, with the gap in usage increasing in magnitude after the soft closure of Utah’s schools in March 2020. The benefits of usage were similar for students regardless of low-income status.

In this study, the Utah Education Policy Center presents evidence for a “digital use divide” in Utah wherein some students are using technology in ways that enhance their mathematics learning through student-centered and data-informed teacher support while other students are using technology in ways that lead to student disengagement and that contribute to educator disaffection.

An evaluation of teacher knowledge, practices, and outcomes using mathematics personalized learning software.

An evaluation of student attitudes and perceptions of math personalized learning software.

The infographic presents the varied and meaningful ways the University of Utah trains teachers to integrate technology into instruction.

Educators and stakeholders are increasingly interested in the integration of technology in the classroom.