Title of Study:  2004 Unitedstreaming Evaluation: 6th and 8th Grade Mathematics in the Los Angeles Unified School District

Author(s): Dr. Frank J Boster et al.

Summary:

This study compared the difference in pre- and post-instruction test scores of 6th and 8th grade math students whose math curriculum was enhanced by unitedstreaming video clips with scores of students receiving similar curriculum without the video clips.

Sponsoring entity(s): Discovery Education

Date conducted: 2004

Location of the study: This study can be accessed through the UnitedStreaming website.

Setting(s) addressed:

• Classroom

Targeted population(s):

• Middle school math students

Primary sources of evidence used in the study or report:

• Pre- and post-instruction multiple choice tests aligned with the California content standards covered during the duration of the study.

Primary Technology Application(s) Addressed:

• Video clips

Major education topic(s) addressed:

• Mathematics

Major findings/conclusions:

• 6th grade students in the experimental group had lower pretest scores than the control, but almost identical posttest scores.  Thus the degree of improvement was higher for students viewing the video clips.
  
  
• 8th grade students in the experimental group had pretest scores similar to the control group, and higher posttest scores.  Again the degree of improvement was higher for students viewing the video clips.

Practical implications of the findings:

• Other studies have reported improved student interest and engagement when video is integrated into lesson plans.  The preliminary results reported in this study suggest learning outcomes might be improved as well.

Reviewer Comments:

• The quasi-experimental design and the focus on learning measured by pre- and post-tests provided an objective measure of differences in student learning.
  
  
• A number of procedural questions arise about the study, however, including providing teachers at the schools using unitedsteaming clips a full day of professional development, while teachers in the control group received no training.