One of the benefits of blogging is that it is possible to follow-up on previous posts. I suppose this is similar to a news program doing a kind of “where are they now” segment.
A year or so ago, I wrote an entry that described the Department of Education’s effort to do a better job of evaluating the effectiveness of instructional software. This post described a research program to be initiated in 2004-2005 to evaluate 16 commercial reading and mathematics programs available to K-12 schools. Mathematica Policy Research and SRI were awarded the grant providing the resources to finally conduct quality research. Conducting educational research in a way that avoids confoundings and methodological flaws is extremely difficult so I have been attempting to follow the success of this project.
I have been able to locate a brief update provided by Mathematica in mid 2004. This update promises:
During summer and fall 2005, the team will analyze the data and prepare a report to be submitted to Congress. Consideration is being given to adding another year of data collection with the same teachers and new students. These data would be gathered in 2005-2006.
I am unable to locate a report resulting from this research. Online searches generate plenty of descriptions and announcements by the companies involved, but I have been unable to locate study results. I would think the initial results described above should be available. If you are aware of published results, I would appreciate an email.
Disregard my request for information. My emails generated a reply:
I expect ED will release our report on findings within six weeks or
thereabouts. When it is released, it will be posted at the Institute of
Education Sciences web site and also at edtech.mathematica-mpr.com.Mark Dynarski
Stay tuned.
