Accelerated Math
Encyclopedia
Accelerated Math is a daily, progress-monitoring software tool that monitors and manages mathematics
skills practice, from preschool math through calculus
. It is primarily used by primary and secondary schools, and it is published by Renaissance Learning
, Inc. Currently, there are five versions: a desktop version and a web-based version in Renaissance Place, the company's web software for Accelerated Math and a number of other software products (e.g. Accelerated Reader
). In Australia
and the United Kingdom
, the software is referred to as "Accelerated Maths."
on Accelerated Math.
Sadusky and Brem (2002) studied the impact of first-year implementation of Accelerated Math in a K-6 urban
elementary school
during the 2001—2002 school year. The research
ers found that teachers were able to immediately use data to make decisions about instruction
in the classroom
. The students in classrooms using Accelerated Math had twice the percentile gains when tested as compared to the control classrooms that did not use Accelerated Math.
Ysseldkyke and Tardrew (2003) studied 2,202 students in 125 classrooms encompassing 24 state
s. The results showed that when students using Accelerated Math were compared to a control group, those students using the software made a significant
gains on the STAR Math test. Students in grade
s 3 through 10 that were using Accelerated Math had more than twice the percentile gains on these tests than students in the control group.
Ysseldyke, Betts, Thill, and Hannigan (2004) conducted a quasi-experimental
study with third- through sixth-grade Title I students. They found that Title I students who used Accelerated Math outperformed students who did not. Springer, Pugalee, and Algozzine (2005) also discovered a similar pattern
. They studied students that failed to pass the AIMS
test in order to graduate
. Over half of the students passed the test after taking a course in which Accelerated Math was used to improve their achievement.
The What Works Clearinghouse (2008) within the Institute of Educational Sciences concluded that studies they evaluated did not show statistically significant gains, when put through the US Government's analysis.
For more research, see the link below.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
skills practice, from preschool math through calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
. It is primarily used by primary and secondary schools, and it is published by Renaissance Learning
Renaissance Learning
Renaissance Learning Inc. is an educational software and hardware company, publicly traded on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol RLRN. It is headquartered in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, USA, with offices in Canada, and the United Kingdom...
, Inc. Currently, there are five versions: a desktop version and a web-based version in Renaissance Place, the company's web software for Accelerated Math and a number of other software products (e.g. Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader is a daily progress monitoring software assessment in wide use by primary and secondary schools for monitoring the practice of reading. It was created by Renaissance Learning, Inc...
). In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the software is referred to as "Accelerated Maths."
Research
Below is a sample of some of the most current researchResearch
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
on Accelerated Math.
Sadusky and Brem (2002) studied the impact of first-year implementation of Accelerated Math in a K-6 urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
elementary school
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
during the 2001—2002 school year. The research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
ers found that teachers were able to immediately use data to make decisions about instruction
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in the classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
. The students in classrooms using Accelerated Math had twice the percentile gains when tested as compared to the control classrooms that did not use Accelerated Math.
Ysseldkyke and Tardrew (2003) studied 2,202 students in 125 classrooms encompassing 24 state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s. The results showed that when students using Accelerated Math were compared to a control group, those students using the software made a significant
Statistical significance
In statistics, a result is called statistically significant if it is unlikely to have occurred by chance. The phrase test of significance was coined by Ronald Fisher....
gains on the STAR Math test. Students in grade
Grade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
s 3 through 10 that were using Accelerated Math had more than twice the percentile gains on these tests than students in the control group.
Ysseldyke, Betts, Thill, and Hannigan (2004) conducted a quasi-experimental
Educational research
Educational research refers to a variety of methods, in which individuals evaluate different aspects of education including but not limited to: “student learning, teaching methods, teacher training, and classroom dynamics”....
study with third- through sixth-grade Title I students. They found that Title I students who used Accelerated Math outperformed students who did not. Springer, Pugalee, and Algozzine (2005) also discovered a similar pattern
Pattern
A pattern, from the French patron, is a type of theme of recurring events or objects, sometimes referred to as elements of a set of objects.These elements repeat in a predictable manner...
. They studied students that failed to pass the AIMS
Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards
Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards is a standardized test administered by the state of Arizona. AIMS is a standards based assessment aligned to the Arizona Academic Content Standards.-Test contents:...
test in order to graduate
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
. Over half of the students passed the test after taking a course in which Accelerated Math was used to improve their achievement.
The What Works Clearinghouse (2008) within the Institute of Educational Sciences concluded that studies they evaluated did not show statistically significant gains, when put through the US Government's analysis.
For more research, see the link below.
Student Issues
Because of the difficulty in reaching goals set by teachers,as a result of no help given by the website itself, many students do not like Accelerated math. There have been a few Facebook pages that confirm this opinion expressed.External links
- Accelerated Math webpage
- Accelerated Math research
- Renaissance Learning research
- 2005 and 2006 Readers’ Choice Awards from eSchool News
Alternate usage
For other uses of the term "accelerated math," please see:- Burris (2003), an article on an accelerated mathematics curriculum
- Shiran (2000), an article on accelerated math operators in JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
programming