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ERIC Number: EJ1489206
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Dec
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2056-7936
Available Date: 2025-09-23
Unlocking Math Potential in Students from Lower SES Backgrounds -- Using Instructional Scaffolds to Improve Performance
Katharina M. Bach1; Frank Reinhold2; Sarah I. Hofer1
npj Science of Learning, v10 Article 66 2025
Socioeconomic status (SES) influences school success. Students with lower SES may face challenges that this study aims to address through instructional scaffolding. To be effective, such support needs to consider students' individual strengths and weaknesses. In this study, 321 sixth-grade students used an e-textbook about fractions. They were randomly assigned to receive either adaptive task difficulty, explanatory feedback, or dynamic visualizations as scaffolds or no scaffolding. We assessed their fraction knowledge at pre- and post-test and eight cognitive and motivational-affective characteristics. Latent profile analyses identified three profiles. Students with lower SES (below the nationwide average) are commonly associated with a profile that has unfavorable learning prerequisites. A linear mixed model revealed that adaptive task difficulty significantly benefited students in this profile. Implementing adaptive task difficulty in math classes might mitigate challenges associated with lower SES, enhancing educational success and equity by addressing individual prerequisites and learning needs.
Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; 2Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany