Aim for Algebra Curriculum Efficacy Study

What is Aim for Algebra?

Aim for Algebra is an algebra intervention curriculum developed at WestEd by experts in the fields of mathematics and mathematics education. It consists of 12 content modules targeting specific areas of mathematics that most often become barriers to learning algebra.

The first six modules have been fully developed and are currently being published by It’s About Time, a division of Herff Jones Publishing.

Click here for a sampler of the first six modules, including the scope of each module and an alignment to California content standards.

Randomized, controlled Trial (RCT)

Six additional modules are currently in development. They have been field-tested in classrooms throughout California with promising results. Click here for the scopes of these six new modules.

WestEd needs your help to study the effectiveness of two of the new modules in a randomized, controlled efficacy study. The two modules being studied are Rational Numbers and Equations and Formulas.

Funded by a grant from the US Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, this randomized, controlled trial will be conducted during the 2010-11 school year.

Qualifications

To participate in this study, teachers must:

• Have at least three full years of experience teaching mathematics.
• Be credentialed to teach mathematics.
• Be assigned to teach one of the following courses this school year:
  • Algebra Intervention, Algebra Readiness, CAHSEE Prep, Pre-Algebra, or similar course.

Requirements

If selected to participate in the study, teachers must:

• Agree to be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. There is one treatment group for each module.
• View a 90-minute archived webinar, then attend a one-day training session.
• Teach one Aim for Algebra module during the 2010 Fall term (approximately 10-15 class periods).
• Schedule one site visit with a study researcher who will observe the implementation of the treatment module in your classroom.
• Cover the learning objectives of the other module in the same classroom using existing materials.
• Administer a pre-test and a post-test to each student for both their treatment module and their control topic (WestEd will score these).
• Provide confidential feedback and general survey information to WestEd.*

*All data collected is coded with a random study number. No teacher or student will be identifiable to researchers and the data will remain confidential.

Benefits

• Free Aim for Algebra module including student materials and a comprehensive Facilitator’s Guide and Answer Key.
• Free training. We will also pay for a substitute teacher, if needed, while you attend the training session.
• Teachers will receive up to a $500 honorarium for their participation ($250 for the treatment module and $250 for the control material).
• One free Aim for Algebra module for the subsequent school year.

To enroll, please download the teacher consent form: download PDF file

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Michelle Tiu, recruitment coordinator, at mtiu@wested.org / 650-381-6444.