3.3: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Educational Apps
- Page ID
- 27218
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Analyze educational apps and software to determine their pedagogical soundness and effectiveness.
- Identify sound pedagogy in educational applications and software.
Educational apps and software are increasingly prevalent in classrooms and homes, but how can we tell if they are actually benefiting student learning? In this section, we will explore methods for analyzing the impact of educational apps on student engagement, learning outcomes, and performance.
Assessing Impact and Effectiveness
When selecting educational apps, it's important to gather data and assess their influence on students. Here are some ways to analyze effectiveness:
- Student engagement - Observe and document how long students engage with the app, their level of interest, and signs of enjoyment/boredom. Compare engagement levels to other technology-based as well as non-technology based learning activities.
- Learning outcomes - Assess student knowledge before and after using the app through quizzes, assignments, or other assessments. Document and review results. Where there improvements or decline? Be sure to fully document, including any other circumstances that may impact performance.
- Performance data - Review scores, levels completed, badges earned, and other metrics within the app. Look for progress over time.
- User feedback - Survey students on their perceptions of the app's helpfulness, ease of use, like/dislike, and areas for improvement.
Analyzing Pedagogical Quality
In addition to the influence on student learning, be sure to analyze the app's design and pedagogy:
- Alignment to standards/curriculum - Ensure app content matches grade-level standards and curriculum goals.
- Learning theory foundations - Determine if the app applies sound learning theories like active learning, spaced practice, feedback, and more.
- Instructional design - Review if the app follows principles of effective instructional design, such as defining learning objectives, organizing content, providing practice, guiding feedback, and assessing comprehension.
- Customization - Check if the app adapts to individual student needs and allows personalized learning paths and assignments.
- Data privacy and security - Confirm the app protects student data privacy through encryption, access controls, and transparency policies.
Reflecting on Strengths and Limitations
You have gathered the data. What are your next steps? After reviewing and analyzing student performance data and pedagogical quality indicators, identify both the strengths and limitations of the educational app. Reflect on any areas for improvement to inform future selection and implementation decisions. Continually reevaluate apps to ensure they remain impactful over time as student needs evolve. Carefully selecting and analyzing educational apps is crucial for identifying those that positively influence student engagement, learning, and performance through sound pedagogical approaches. Ongoing collection of student learning data, combined with an evaluation of instructional design and customization capabilities, allows the determination of app effectiveness and opportunities for improvement. This supports better-informed adoption that maximizes educational technology benefits for all students.
The following graphic was introduce in Chapter 1 and applies to this topic as well: rsearch and plan, implement, gather data and feedback, evaluate, re-assess and update plans as necessary.
Figure 3.3.1: Cycle of effective technology integration by Renee Albrecht. Licensed under CC BY.