Adaptive Learning through the Eyes of an Educator: Using Effective Tools

My goal of this post is to hone in on and explain how teachers can use Dreambox to their fullest potential. I am hoping to find more computer based programs that are as beneficial as Dreambox. This past year  I learned about the Dreambox Dashboard. The Dashboard is an account for educators to use to assist in making meaningful lessons. There is a plethora of information that can be obtained by regularly monitoring the Dashboard. The are tools that equip an educator to be more effective. 

The Dashboard informs an educator the following: 

• The standards where students are showing success
• The standards where students are showing difficulty
• Amount of lessons completed and the amount of time to complete
• The number of times a lesson is repeated
• The amount of time spent on games vs. learning
• Suggested areas of review
• Allows educators to assign individual standards
• Gives educators videos to help explain the concept the students are learning

The features listed help hold the students accountable for their learning. The information allows me to support students in their learning. The captioned screenshots below give more information of what useful information is in the Dashboard.

The assign focus feature allows an educator to assign a specific standard to hone in on and practice. 

A student has been unsuccessful with this standard so, I can play the lesson and see where I can support the learner.

This is class data and sorted by standard. The green circle is a successful completed standard. The half circles are in progress and the blank circles have not been attempted yet.

The learner completed this lesson five times and has spent 2 minutes on the lesson. That being said, this student has shown mastery with this standard and would benefit to move on to the next standard. 

The tools help educators complete to following: 

• increase intervention effectiveness: you can track progress and see where students progress vs. the expectation. This in turn, gives information needed for meaningful instruction. 
• The AssignFocus tool allows for differentiated material for every student: with a click of a mouse, you can assign the standards needed. Click here to learn how Dreambox differentiates the instruction and how a teacher uses that information.
• Track progress through the standards: my screenshot shows only the completed of the second grade standards. That being said, I can track progress with any grade level. Academic levels vary in the classroom and I may have students complete first grade or fourth grade standards depending on the student. The students are supported and challenged accordingly to their need (Dreambox, 2018). Click here for a more in depth overview of the dashboard. 

References

Dreambox (2018). Reporting Features. Retrieved from http://www.dreambox.com/reporting

Adaptive Learning

 What is Adaptive Learning?

A computer based system that modifies the presentation of material in response to student performance. It creates a more meaningful learning experience. Material is presented in a variety of ways. Students receive the right content at the right time, maximizing learning efficiency, effectiveness, engagement, and retention. Educators grasp cohort dynamics through real-time analytics and know exactly what their learners are struggling with, so they can quickly adapt instruction. (Dreambox, 2018)

Advantages of Adaptive Learning

Adaptive Learning has shown to be very beneficial for students and teachers. Research has shown that it can help increase grades by one full letter, boosts retention rate by 10% and gives immediate intervention any misconceptions. The computer based courses give the opportunity for one-to-one learning and increased engagement. My students are genuinely happy when it is time to use Dreambox in the classroom. They cheer each other on when they achieve a level and always eager when it is their center rotation to use it. (McGraw-Hill 2015)

Disadvantages of Adaptive Learning

It can be harder to manage behavior and monitor student progress when students are on the computer. I am working in a small group while students are completing levels in Dreambox. I use my Dreambox Dashboard to monitor progress. I at times find that students are playing the same game up to 8 times and not moving on. This allows me to conference with the students and tell them that they need to move on from the mastered material. The computer based course takes away the student/teacher and replaces it the course. That being said, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

What does Adaptive Learning look like?

Adaptive Learning is when content is built within in a computer based program and it does not follow one path. The adaptive course uses the content and takes each student through the course differently, based on the interaction with the material. Students could skip already mastered material and continue to practice on work that is more challenging. Students are able to get results in real-time. (O’Connell, 2018)

How Do I use Adaptive learning in my classroom?

My students use the adaptive learning computer based program called, Dreambox. Dreambox is a course that focuses on math material. Dreambox is able to give students the content and support needed based on the learners needs. In turn, I the educator, am able to logon to my Dreambox account and learn about where my students have mastered, struggled with and the amount of time spent on each standard. Some students may be receiving extra practice with a first grade standard or another learner may be mastering a third grade standard. The levels in any classroom vary but Dreambox is able to give each student their individual needs. I use the data from the course and use that to plan my small group instruction. Dreambox is able to give me a specific standard to work on and who would benefit from even more practice. Then, I am flexible with my grouping of my learners and use that data to plan a lesson and give those students repeated practice with my support. The goal of an educator is to educate children and present them with material in a way that the learner is able to grasp and understand. I am fortunate that the adaptive learning courses are able to me the opportunity to be effective within my classroom.

My infographic helps hone in on this topic and summarize this blog: 

There are more resources to consider learning more about adaptive learning: 

Resource 1: This resource is a video from Dreambox that explains the purpose of the program.

Resource 2: This resource is a video and it explains the difference between adaptive assessment and adaptive instruction.  

References 

Dreambox. (2018, March 21). Adaptive Learning. Retrieved from http://www.dreambox.com/adaptive-learning

McGraw-Hill. (2015, March 4). Adaptive Learning's Next Audience: Struggling K-12 Students. Retrieved from https://www.mheducation.com/ideas/adaptive-learnings-next-audience-struggling-k-12-students.html

O'Connell, A. (2018, April 10). Adaptive Learning: What Is It And What Does It Mean For Your Learners | Litmos Blog. Retrieved from https://www.litmos.com/blog/articles/adaptive-learning-mean-learners

Posner, Z. (2017, January 11). Adaptive Learning's Next Audience: Struggling K-12 Students. Retrieved from 

 https://www.mheducation.com/ideas/adaptive-learnings-next-audience-struggling-k-12-students.html