Effects of the QuickSmart Numeracy program on the mathematics outcomes of year 4 and 8 students.

QuickSmart Numeracy: A randomized control trial investigating the efficacy of the 30 week QuickSmart numeracy program on Progressive Achievement Test (Mathematics) results among year 4 and 8 students demonstrating low numeracy abilities.

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12616001612404

Enrollment

313

Registered

2016-11-22

Start date

2017-01-23

Completion date

2017-03-10

Last updated

2020-09-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Students who experience ongoing failure in upper-primary and lower-secondary school face a myriad of difficulties in pursuing post-school options and societal contribution through employment and aware citizenship. Those who exhibit consistent weaknesses in basic skills, such as the recall of number facts are particularly vulnerable. The QuickSmart Numeracy program is focused on improving the speed and accuracy of basic arithmetic computation. This intervention has demonstrated efficacy within quasi-experimental research trials. The purpose of this study is to test the intervention efficacy using a randomized-controlled experimental design. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a numeracy based program, QuickSmart Numeracy, on the numeracy levels of year 4 and 8 students with low proficiency in mathematics. Participants are asked to undertake additional tuition (3 x 30 minute sessions / week within school hours) across 3 school terms (30 weeks). QuickSmart tuition is focused on improving the speed and accuracy of basic arithmetic computation. Evaluation of the primary outcome is via a cluster randomized controlled trial (wait-list control) involving parallel comparison of matched pairs within the same class. The primary outcome is the age scaled score on the Progressive Achievement Test (mathematics version).

Interventions

Participants (school students in year 4 and 8) are asked to undertake additional mathematics tuition (3 x 30 minute sessions / week within school hours) across 3 school terms (30 weeks). QuickSmart tuition is focused on improving the speed and accuracy of basic arithmetic computation. Sessions are undertaken by teacher's aids who have undertaken the QuickSmart instructor training (3 day workshop). Sessions are undertaken with two students at a time, with the CAAS system (see below) recording session attendance and progress. QuickSmart tuition involves: 1- Flash cards and number recall games using numerical operations: number naming, addition number facts, subtraction number facts, multiplication number facts, division number facts, and triple addition tasks (for example, 7 + 4 + 3). 2- Cognitive Aptitude Assessment System (CAAS) The CAAS system provides measures of how rapidly students complete tasks by speaking into a microphone once a number fact is displayed on the computer screen. An instructor scores each response for accuracy. 3- Students graphing of CAAS results.

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

7 Years to 15 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

1- Participants are in Year 4 or 8 in 2017 2- Bottom 30% nationally in the most recent National Assessment Programme - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) - Numeracy outcome.

Exclusion criteria

1- NAPLAN - numeracy above bottom 30% nationally 2- Previous participation in QuickSmart Numeracy 3- Not in year 4 or 8 in 2017

Outcome results