Thanks to all for responding. Hopefully all who have responded have
received an e-mail from me. If not, my apologies. Thanks to all!
My concern with Study Island is that it not be used as an alternative to
teaching, rather as a supplemental piece. I'm also concerned it may
become a "babysitter." I also am concerned that SI does not tell
students why they chose the incorrect answer, although, it does, however
tell students why they chose the correct answer. I feel it'd be more
beneficial if it told students why the answer they chose was incorrect.
It provides mini-lessons before each test. These are good if the
teacher review these lessons with students, but, as a stand-alone
activity for a student, I don't foresee them being beneficial for a
second grader to sit-down and read through. In addition, I don't
anticipate students reading the explanations of why the correct answer
was correct. Please see below for what others had to say.
I helped implement the program at Hatherly Elementary School in Sterling
Heights, MI. I was only there for one year with it but the teachers and
students really liked it. The teachers could check on results and test
taking over the summer and communicate by emails within the program. I
don't know how it impacted the test scores but it got off to a positive
start.
I don't have any facts on test scores, but I can tell you how I saw kids
using it. There is a part that has games that kids are suppose to read
and answer questions. Kids were just pushing any keys to play the games
and not reading anything. I finally had to say that in the library if
they were on study island there could be no games because I got tired
of kids beating on the keyboards.
We use it in our district at elementary and middle schools. I am not
sure about concrete evidence, but one school that has been recognized or
exemplary some years in a row swears by it. The teachers need to buy
into it I would say. Nothing particular to be wary of that I know of.
If you have other questions, I will be happy to try and answer them.
Our school has had it for a few years now and loves it! The kids enjoy
it because of the games, and the teachers love it because the kids like
it. Teachers have the ability to determine which skills their kids can
take; this is helpful to keep them from playing "easy" stuff just to
play more games. Teachers can also turn the games off altogether if
needed. It used to be that you could get a free trial to try it out for
yourself. You might want to check on that...
Our intermediate uses it with great results. Our version is very out
dated.
I work in a 6-8th grade school and we had Study Island for about 2
years. The teachers really liked the math component, but HATED the
language arts part. Many of our special ed teachers had very good
results using the 3rd-4th grade math with our 6-8th grade special ed
students. I personally wouldn't want to guess whether or not our test
scores improved because of the use of this product.
Our Title 1 schools in the district have paid for it for several years.
It is a good, sound program. Each student has a login password and can
access it at home or school. There are many questions in all categories
of study - meeting Oklahoma PASS objectives for testing. There is even
a game format to be played.
One seventh grade Language Arts class at my school did a trial. One of
the comments made was that you had to do all the modules to do any post
testing, preventing the ability to only focus on specific objectives.
My role in the trial as media specialist was setting up the laptops and
getting user names set up for the students. This is what the teacher of
the classroom told me.
I believe there was also a feeling that what was being done wasn't any
different to what is done in workbooks to reinforce skills
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