Study Island is a web-based program. Students learn at their own pace with no software to download or to install. There are practice questions for math, reading, writing, science and social studies. The program is organized into topics that cover each state’s academic content standards. Currently, over 36 states have their standards aligned with Study Island’s programs.
Study Island Is a Tool for Teachers and Students
Teachers and students can log-on to the site in a computer lab setting or at home. Students can chose a subject area to work on and a standard or indicator in which to focus. If students are unfamiliar with a topic, they can view a lesson that explains the basic concepts. If students meet a goal, they receive a blue ribbon. If they do not meet the goal, then they have the option to try the section again. All of their scores are reported on their computer screen. Teachers can easily keep track of all of their students’ progress through the computer program.
“Study Island is good but more as a tool to reinforce indicators already taught. It is great for self-motivated students but most students need a lot of guidance to use it successfully,” said Myles Kiphen, Logan Hocking Middle School Principal in an email interview, August 11, 2008.
Connection to State Standards and NCLB
No Child Left Behind requires educational dollars to be spent on research-based programs to help children learn. The Study Island and No child Left Behind: Solid Research Equals Solid Results report, by Study Island in 2003, explains how the developers based much of their program on the Assessment Forum and the Advancing of Student Learning through Outcomes Assessment project by the University of Arizona. A new independent research report will be published in August 2008.
The main premise behind the program is that it is data-driven and computerized. This helps the program to assess what students already know, allows teachers to see trends in student performance, and lets students see progress and work towards a goal. Study Island connects student performance with each state standard.
"What really sets Study Island apart from many other programs is the fact that we actually 'build' our standards mastery and preparation programs from each specific state standard as opposed to simply “aligning” pre-existing generic content to the standards," said J W Marshall, Study Island Marketing Manager in an email interview on August 11, 2008.
Schools See Increase in Test Performance
Many schools report an increase in tests scores after using Study Island. The increases are based on test scores before using the program and after using the program. A few results are as follows:
- Northport K-8 in St. Lucie County School Districts in Florida reports an increase in math -- 2006 47% to 2007 52% and in reading 2006 52% to 2007 57%.
- Manchester Middle School in Lakehurst, New Jersey shows an increase in math in grade six in 2005-06 73% to 2006-07 87%, grade seven in 2005-06 69% to 2006-07 74%, and grade eight seven in 2005-06 65% to 2006-07 78%.
- Explorer Middle School of Technology, Paradise Valley Unified School District in Arizona reports four years of eighth grade data. In math the eighth graders performed as follows: 2004 36%, 2005 83%, 2006 80% and 2007 88%. In reading, the eighth graders performed as follows: 2004 69%, 2005 80%, 2006 82% and 2007 89%.
There is no “silver bullet” to increase test scores. Usually, it is a combination of good teaching practices and programs like Study Island to reinforce concepts taught in the classroom. However, Study Island does have the research to show that it has helped improve many schools' test scores.
Kellie Hayden - She is a 19 year veteran teacher with a master's degree in education and NBCT, 2000. Kellie teaches 8th grade language arts, TAG and ...
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