Work

Primary school mathematics during the COVID-19 pandemic: No evidence of learning gaps in adaptive practicing results

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic induced many governments to close schools for months. Evidence so far suggests that learning has suffered as a result. Here, it is investigated whether forms of computer-assisted learning mitigated the decrements in learning observed during the lockdown. METHOD: Performance of 53,656 primary school students who used adaptive practicing software for mathematics was compared to performance of similar students in the preceding year. RESULTS: During the lockdown progress was faster than it had been the year before, contradicting results reported so far. These enhanced gains were correlated with increased use, and remained after the lockdown ended. This was the case for all grades but more so for lower grades and for weak students, but less so for students in schools with disadvantaged populations. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adaptive practicing software may mitigate, or even reverse, the negative effects of school closures on mathematics learning.

Source: Trends in Neuroscience and Education

DOI: 10.1016/j.tine.2021.100163

Author: Martijn Meeter

Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Education during COVID-19 pandemic

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,720