We used a cluster-randomized controlled trial to examine the impacts of a technology- and game-based social-emotional program, the "Adventures Aboard the S.S. GRIN" ("Adventures"), on students' social skills development. Eighty-eight third-grade classrooms (N = 1645 third-grade students) across four California public school…

Background/Context: Research has shown that students with strong social-emotional skills demonstrate greater motivation to learn, have more positive attitudes toward school, participate more actively in activities, and show better academic performance than students with social-emotional challenges (Gresham et al., 2020; Kostelnik et al. 2015).…

School closures because of natural phenomena, such as COVID-19, have emphasized the importance of effective distance learning strategies when there are no in-person alternatives. Although infrequently mentioned in discussions of student performance, social-emotional skill building came to the forefront of conversations due to the isolation and…

Games in service of learning are uniquely positioned to offer immersive, interactive educational experiences. Well-designed games build challenge through a series of well-ordered problems or activities, in which perseverance is key for working through ingame failure and increasing game difficulty. Indeed, persistence through challenges during…

This study examines whether "My Math Academy," a digital game-based learning environment that provides personalized content and adaptive embedded assessments, can improve math knowledge of Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. A cluster randomized study was conducted with 20 classrooms, 10 of which were randomly assigned…

Explore Learning contracted with LearnPlatform, a third-party edtech research company, to examine the relationship between student usage of Frax and math learning outcomes. Frax is a game-based, adaptive technology designed using the latest research on effective fractions instruction to support all learners in meeting early standards for fractions…

Over the past few years, language teaching has progressively evolved from teacher-fronted classroom settings to more complex, learner-centered scenarios, allowing learners to explore authentic contents, work collaboratively, and create sophisticated and socially relevant products. In addition, these processes foster language learning, increase…

Background/Context: Mathematics education, especially at early grade levels, continues to be an important focus for national education improvement efforts, and more districts are introducing technology as part of their solution. Along with increasing consistent delivery of personalized and individualized learning to students, technology- and…

Executive function is the set of cognitive skills needed for goal directed behavior and is a strong predictor of academic success (Best, 2014). The present study examines the effectiveness of a custom video game designed to train the executive function skill of shifting--being able to efficiently shift attention from 1 task to another. In…

This first analysis of aggregated data from the Kahoot! game-based player response system demonstrates that it can provide assessments of overall US student polar knowledge and identifies differences in polar knowledge across several states. A kahoot online quiz on polar topics recorded over 25,000 United States teacher-hosted classroom players…

An extensive body of empirical evidence shows that math skills at school entry are the strongest predictor of later academic success and educational attainment, but many children lack the opportunity to build the math skills needed for future success. Children who begin school with relatively low levels of math knowledge are at risk of falling…

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate iPersonalize, a gamified instructional approach developed by Fullerton School District (FSD) in California to encourage student engagement and promote achievement. An instructional approach is considered gamified when it incorporates computer game elements to augment existing classroom,…

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate iPersonalize, a gamified instructional approach developed by Fullerton School District (FSD) in California to encourage student engagement and promote achievement. An instructional approach is considered gamified when it incorporates computer game elements to augment existing classroom,…

With only 40% of students proficient in math by 4th grade, the U.S. faces an acute need to scale innovative approaches to help close the math achievement gap. Closing this gap is particularly critical in order to support effective Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning and prepare the future workforce for…