A new study from WestEd, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research agency, commissioned by Front Row Education, found that students using the adaptive, gamified and data-drive technology showed greater mathematics achievement outcomes when compared with students who did not. The study included more than 450 kindergarten, first and second grade students in a rural school, and is based on student scores on the Northwest Evaluation Association’s’ (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) in mathematics. The study compared classrooms in which teachers opted to use the Front Row technology, and those that did not over the course of the 2014-2015 school year. Examining test scores at the start of the year and again at the end, the analysis found that students given access to Front Row scored on average nearly 10 (9.86) percentage points higher, and approximately two months ahead in terms of mathematical achievements. “Since launching back in 2013, we’ve heard time and again from teachers on the impact Front Row has had on their student’s education; the ability to grasp new concepts more quickly, enjoying math for the first time and an increase in their test scores, to name a few,” said Sidharth Kakkar, CEO and co-founder for Front Row. “Where we struggled was quantifying these results scientifically, versus anecdotally. This study has revealed what we have known all along: Front Row is making an impact on students in a real and meaningful way, helping us to reach our goal of providing the best available instructional materials and technology for teachers globally.” As access to devices in schools increase, technology in the classroom is quickly becoming ubiquitous. It is critical that teachers choose technology that will truly have an effect on the education of their students and provide tangible learner outcomes. It can be difficult to know which programs will have the biggest impact, and studies like the one released today can be incredibly useful in helping to make informed decisions, especially if combined with positive word-of-mouth referrals from teachers who have implemented the technology previously. In addition to the Front Row math program, the company also provides a language arts program through Front Row ELA, which include both writing and reading components. Since launching in 2013, Front Row has continuously made new features available, along with updating the programs based directly on feedback from teachers. Today, Front Row Math is used in over 25% of U.S. schools, and continues to grow rapidly. For more information on Front Row or to sign-up, visit www.frontrowed.com.
In a study produced and financed by Front Row, students using a new adaptive technology product using elements of gaming (also developed by Front Row) performed better in mathematics. WestEd, described as a non-partisan, non-profit research agency, was contracted to perform the research on more than 450 students, and found that the students who used the Front Row tech scored 9.86% higher on maths quizzes than students who did not.