Evaluation Plan for A Study of Impact of Learning to Play Online Chess 1

Evaluation Plan for

A Study of Impact of Learning to Play Online Chess on 7th Graders’ Mathematics Achievement,

Self-Regulated Learning, and Attitude toward Math

By

Martha Rice

Submitted to

Dr. Bosede Aworuwa

ITED 530.01W – Research in Instructional Technology

Texas A&M-Texarkana
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Program description

The purpose of the Faculty “Learning Chess to Improve Math Achievement” program is to

determine whether having 7th graders at Pewitt Junior High School learn chess and play chess

online for at least 30 minutes per week will help them improve math achievement on

standardized math tests.  The program is operated by through the technology applications class,

which provides support for students as they learn and play chess.

Pewitt Junior High School 7th grade students are enrolled in technology applications class.  Each

Monday and Friday, students will be given time to learn chess strategies and play online chess

with their fellow Pewitt Junior High School 7th grade students as part of a chess club using

www.chesskid.com.  There is no cost involved for the online chess club or any technology. 

Students in the program will be evaluated throughout the year to determine the program’s

effectiveness.

Stakeholders

Martha Rice, program manager (sponsor)

Carol Bickham, 7th grade math teacher

Sandra Braun, 7th grade math specialist

Administrators, Pewitt CISD

7th grade students at Pewitt Junior High

Central questions

Are students spending time working on learning chess and on playing online chess?

Is students’ time on task going to be an issue in the implementation of the project?

Is the program helping students become better math students?

What does becoming a better math students entail?  Achievement? Self-Regulated Learning?
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Is the program helping math education or interfering with it?

Does the program make students more independent, self-directed learners?

Evaluation purpose and uses

The purpose of evaluating the “Learning Chess to Improve Math Achievement” program is to

assess the effect of the program on attitudes, achievement rates, and independence of the 7th

grade students with respect to math. Both formative evaluation and summative results will help

program sponsor decide whether to continue, reorganize, or discontinue the program for the

2011-2012 school year.

Project components

These assessments will be used to evaluate the project:

Students will take online surveys at the end of each six weeks.

Students will participate with math specialist and project manager in an online discussion about

their participation in the program.

Project manager will update program evaluation report in June 2011.

Project manager will discuss project progress with math teacher and math specialist at the end of

each semester.

Project responsibilities

Project manager will manage and evaluate all aspects of the project from beginning to end.

Pewitt Junior High School students will participate as test subjects.  Project manager will be
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responsible for enrolling students in program; finding and administering assessments; measuring,

analyzing, and reporting data.

Evaluation Timeline

Time period Task

August 2010 Develop online discussion group.

2010-2011 school year (continual) Administer online discussion group.

End of each six weeks Develop and administer online participant surveys.

End of each six weeks Administer learning assessments

End of each semester Develop and administer online adult stakeholder surveys.

End of each semester Develop and administer adult stakeholder discussions.

End of 2010-2011 school year Analyze assessment data, report evaluation findings.