14 Mar
Study Island
We are always looking for new ideas for improving standardized test scores. Recently our Principal wanted me to look at something called Study Island. It is a site that takes the Missouri GLEs (Grade Level Expectations) and created multi-guess questions that go along with each GLE. Students can log in and take online tests and do lessons on Study Island. All that information is then reported back to the teacher. After I talked to some teachers from another district just glowing about the site and the program at a science and math conference and after playing around with the demo and getting the thought from some fellow teachers, I recommended that we try it. Hopefully, the reports will be useful in targeting skills and GLEs that the students are having difficultly with before the MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) test.
Today was the first day that I have used it with the kids so I can’t really tell you how well the program is going to work but I can tell you the setup for 225 kids and 15 teachers was pretty painless after I got the roster from the student information system in a spreadsheet.
The site is user friendly. Teachers and students alike had no problem navigating the site. Students can access the site from home as well. I currently have the site setup to only allow kids to play the game if they are 80% or above accuracy on the questions.
After the MAP test I will tell you what I think of how the program worked with our school.
We managed to purchase the program when they were offering to extend the subscription through June of 2008. Cool for us.
Oh, and they do have alignment with other state standards, not just Missouri.
Class dismissed!
Posted by Anna on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
Hmmm…apparently someone forgot that they had a very good friend who worked in a company that also does this and that said friend works directly in this area…*cough*
Posted by Tom Kassela on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
What is the name of the other company? Do they have a program similar to Study Island?
Posted by Christopher on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
ThinkLink is the name that you are looking for Tom.
Posted by Caryn on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
These preparatory tests are idiotic and assanine and as stupid — —– —– - they are confusing - boring and ridiculous the —- that keep dreaming these test or practices up are —–.
A Parent
Edited for content.
Posted by Christopher on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
I don’t disagree Caryn. I just wish that you would have said it a different way.
Posted by David on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
I don’t know enough to judge the academic merits of this program but from a network administrator’s point of view this product consumes more badwidth than you might imagine possible.
Posted by Amy on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
Study Island is now a bit outdated. Take a look at this standards based assessment company, http://www.brainchild.com. It is extremely user friendly. It has saved me so much time. My students have improved tremendously. They even offer a free month to 30 students per school.
Posted by goerge ruffis on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
i think it is stupid and
Posted by Jeff Schofill on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
Chris, I would like to know how Study Island is working for you. Though I think our standards based system of education is not ideal, it is what we have. I have looked for supplemental stuff, and even looked at the sites referenced in previous posts, but haven’t found anything really sound in social studies.
Posted by Tatiana on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
I hate Study Island, your students probably do too:)
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Posted by Christopher on 14.03.07 at 9:40 pm
Actually, 95% of my kids really enjoy it and ask when they get to do it. Of the students that have Internet access at home, the majority have gotten online after school to play the games.