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Adaptive Learning Requires iOS or Android App

As of January 2021, Adaptive Learning modules (blue tiles in the content gallery) are available only through an app available for iPads and Chromebooks. You can learn more about downloading the iOS app here and the Chromebook app here.

Students must have the app installed on their compatible device in order to complete Adaptive Learning assignments. Teachers do not require the app, but can use the web-based teacher dashboard.

Check out these resources for help installing the iOS or Chromebook app:

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Is Adobe Flash Player Required for Woot Math?

Most of the Woot Math content is HTML5, and therefore, does not require the Adobe Flash Player. However, Woot Math’s Adaptive Learning activities (the blue tiles) do require Adobe Flash Player to run in a web browser.

Students: For the 20202-2021 school year, the recommended option for students using the Adaptive Learning activities is to install the Woot Math app on iOS for iPad (available in Apple App Store now) or Android for Chromebooks (available soon in the Google Play store). The Adaptive Learning activities that require Flash will also be available on the web until Flash is no longer supported (the end of 2020).

Teachers: The teacher dashboard is HTML5, and thus does not require the use of Flash or an iOS or Android App.

To enable Flash on your students’ computer, have them follow these steps (these steps are for Chrome).

When an activity requires Flash, you will see something like the following.

Click on the lock icon at the top of the URL bar, then click on site settings.

Find the Flash entry, and change from Blocked to Enabled for wootmath.com

Then close that browser tab, and return to Woot Math. You might need to restart the browser, and then the activity will load.

 

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What do the various mastery levels – red, yellow, green – imply?

Woot Math uses a knowledge model of each student to help them be successful as they work on their Woot Math Adaptive Learning assignments. The knowledge model knows what each student has mastered, and where they are lacking. To review student data, start from the Analytics tab of the teacher dashboard. A screenshot of this report is included below.

This report indicates two things using fraction pieces (because, we love fractions!) First, completion towards the assignment is shown as the amount of the fraction circle that is filled in. Second, the level of mastery (red, yellow, and green) are indicated for each assignment. You can click on a student’s name (shown on the left in the above image) to get a detailed reporting of the student’s progress, which includes the assignments and levels played, time spent, problems solved, and stars earned.

What do stars indicate?

As students complete levels within a given assignment, they are awarded stars. Students can earn between 0 and 3 stars for each level. If a student is struggling and earning 0 or 1 stars, the adaptive engine might provide the student with extra content, review content, supplemental content, and additional types of supports. For a student that is doing great and earning 2 or even 3 stars, the adaptive engine might determine that the student has mastered the content and that they are ready for additional material. Stars earned on an assignment influence the level of mastery reported, but it is not a 1:1 correlation.

What do the levels of mastery indicate?

The levels of mastery indicate how your students are doing on a given assignment. Because mastery is based on past history of the assignment as well as current achievement, you can loosely think of it as a moving average.  (It is more complicated than that, since it involves Bayesian analysis and Machine Learning. If you’d like to learn more, please visit our research page for additional information.)

What are best practices based on my students’ mastery levels?

In general, if your students are at a green level, no action is required. It means that they are exactly where they should be, learning the material and doing great. For students that indicate a mastery level of yellow or red, it is recommended to take a closer look at their reports.

By clicking on the student’s name, you’ll see a detailed timeline of the student’s progress. Each level that the student has completed is shown, and includes the time that they spent in the level, the problems that they solved, if they got correct or incorrect answers, and even if they watched the videos or not. A sample of this timeline is shown below.

The videos displayed during the lesson are shown in blue, and if the student skipped a video, it is indicated with a red arrow at the top of the report. Problems answered correctly are indicated by the green circles, and incorrect problems are indicated with red circles.

Reviewing these problems, perhaps even with the student, can help address gaps in understanding, so your student can continue on making progress through the assignment.

If a student is consistently showing a red level of mastery, you might want to consider assigning the student earlier content in the sequence. Woot Math’s adaptive engine will not send a student back to an earlier assignment without input from their teacher. For additional details on best practices, refer to the implementation guidelines for grades 3-5 and 6-8.

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Woot Math in a 4th Grade Classroom

Fraction bar digital manipulatives
Fraction Circle Digital Manipulatives

– Digital Manipulatives –

Not having to search for a half, third, and sixth piece (that accidentally got knocked on the ground and now is under someone’s shoes, or what color was the twelves piece?!) To model a problem quickly and efficiently for a learner still at the concrete level of fractions is a teacher’s dream come true!

Woot Math provides an opportunity for students to have access to manipulatives and models of all sizes and types (fraction bars and circles are available to students) while working on problems that cover all grade level standards. This is exactly what I have always wanted to be able to provide for my students. The question types are varied with kid friendly fonts, graphics, and animations to keep students interested peeked. Additionally, the writing tool is fantastic for showing how to make groups, separate, divide, and give meaning to word problems – every kids’ nemesis. Woot Math has built in positive reinforcements and rewards to keep students engaged while offering rigorous common core aligned curriculum. Students are presented with problems that mirror our state test and their confidence is built as they see themselves as experts to help classmates working on similar question types.

Student engagement

– Student engagement includes badges and stars –

Like most classrooms across the nation, my class is composed of students performing multiple grade levels above and multiple grade levels below in math a well as other subjects. Woot Math is a perfect match for every student in our class. Students with IEPs are able to watch the instructional videos and receive curriculum starting with third grade standards. Students who are advanced in math can progress on their own above our grade level and continue to learn fractions and decimals into sixth grade level.

We use Woot Math in class for 15 to 30 minutes a day while we are working in the fractions domain. I assign each student to start at the beginning of the program, which is third grade standards. As a fourth-grade teacher it is a dream for me to have no assumptions of what the students remember from last year. Every child is able to work through last year‘s fractions and decimals standards. (You can find a useful example of Woot Math problems  on their Equivalent Fractions page.)

Woot Math gives students the opportunity for additional practice if they make mistakes, so mastery is the focus of each assignment. I love that Woot Math ensures that each student is able to be successful before moving on. The focus is on mastery, not on getting the assignment completed as fast as possible. If students rush through with careless errors they are given more opportunities to try those problems again. Students learn that focus and accuracy are more important than speed. The immediate feedback students receive let’s them know right away if they are understanding the standards or not.

Completed Book Tile

– Completed Book Award –

Each week on Monday I set a goal for students to complete one or two “books” by Friday. I love that the curriculum is broken down into small parts so students are celebrated frequently and receive recognition for their hard work. Everyone feels like a winner with Woot Math. Kids love receiving a new highlight color and being awarded their stars at the end of a section. I reinforce to my class not to guess and to rewatch the video that comes at the beginning of the section which models, describes, and outlines exactly how to complete the work.

The Mastery by Books report is a quick way for me to scan who has completed which books and to what degree of mastery. The color-coded grid is simple, straightforward, and a breeze to use for the busy teacher with multiple subjects to teach a day. Being able to see 32 students work on individualized assignments that have been personalized to meet their needs is so rewarding. Every student is learning the next thing they need to know. That’s the power of Woot Math! Woot!

Adaptive Learning Reports

– Sample Report –

If you haven’t already, sign up for your free today!

Sign Up Today!

About Christi:
Christi Tucker is a 4th grade teacher with her masters degree in curriculum and instruction. She has ten years of experience in preschool through 8th grade. Christi loves the Southern California sunshine, color-changing sheep on Minecraft, kayaking in the bay, and taking on a challenge to learn something new. Embracing change, she loves to integrate technology into learning and utilizing it to make learning an adventure everyday.

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Technology Tools for Elementary Grades

While there are no shortage of lists, they can be time consuming to parse and analyze. Organizations like Common Sense Media are critical (you can see their review of Woot Math here). Tracy Johnston Zager’s just posted her list, A Totally Not Exhaustive Look at the Current State of Elementary EdTech. We think her crtieria is a pretty good lens for analysis. It includes:
1. No time pressure. Some of the recommended apps have the option of timing or the option of disabling the timer. I recommend disabling the timer in all cases. If you can’t disable or mellow out the timer, don’t use the app.
2. Conceptual modeling. There are plenty of apps that have flashcards embedded in sushi restaurants, caves, junkyards, etc. But I’m looking for programs that relate the concepts of the number and operations to the fact. This usually means some form of visual modeling (arrays, dots, etc.).
3. Productive handling of mistakes. They’re opportunities to learn and should be framed as such. Also, competition is to be avoided for most students.
As she mentions, the list is not comprehensive. But it definitely includes some of our favorites, as well as some that are new to us. Thanks Tracy for the thoughtful list! And we are proud that Woot Math was included. You can read her full review here: http://tjzager.com/2018/03/06/a-totally-not-exhaustive-look-at-the-current-state-of-elementary-edtech/
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Woot Math in a 6th Grade Classroom

There are many ways I use Woot Math Adaptive Practice with my students. The Adaptive Practice provides a series of books by topic, covering all fraction standards. In sixth grade, we do an entire fraction unit, which I usually start by having them complete the Woot Math Fraction Refresher II unit. This book summarizes all the fifth grade standards, giving me the opportunity to quickly see my students strengths and weaknesses by reviewing the Woot Math Mastery by Topic report. From this report, I am able to immediately get easy to read insights into each student.

The Woot Math Fraction Refresher unit acts as my pre-assessment. I then use the Interactive Problem Bank, provided with Adaptive Practice, to create lessons that cater to the topics that the report identifies my students struggle with the most. The Woot Math Interactive Problem Bank works well with SMARTboards, or can be projected on a whiteboard where students can write directly on the pictures, figures, and diagrams. These lessons meet the needs of visual learners with a variety of models including bars, circles, number lines and more. The lessons meet the needs of auditory learners as we all talk through a problem or process. Additionally, the lessons are hands on, and let students draw on and move shapes around to justify their reasoning. Here is a great example of how to use Adaptive Practice with the Interactive Problem Bank and Woot Math Polls. Grade 6 Classroom After my initial assessment, I then assign specific Adaptive Practice units to students based on their needs, including more advanced students who require a challenge. The smart software provides help and problems based on the way students answer, giving them appropriate practice. While students are working on Adaptive Practice in class, I have the time to meet one-on-one with students or in small groups to have in depth conversations about their understanding. I trust students to work on their device because they know I can see everything from my dashboard: screenshots of their work, how many problems they complete, and how much time it took them to complete each one. Grade 6 Class using Woot Math What I value most about Woot Math is that it perfectly supplements my curriculum and my teaching. The results speak for themselves: When my students use Woot Math they are more confident about math, and they are able to gain real mastery of the topics that they struggle with the most.

About Janelle:

Janelle Stanton is a full-time math teacher at Broomfield Heights Middle School. She has been a middle school math teacher for ten years. Before becoming a math teacher, she worked in corporate finance. She says that the experience she has had outside of education has supported learning in her classrooms because she can often answer the question, “When will we ever need to know this?” Teaching is her dream job, and she especially loves middle school because “the students are growing and changing in every way, and trying to figure out how to be their best selves.” She believes that middle school mathematics provides the foundation for many necessary real world skills, and is the parent of two middle schoolers. She loves to learn new things and considers herself a lifelong learner. She has presented at local and national math education conferences, e.g., the MidSchool Math National Conference: https://msm2017.sched.com/janelle.stanton. Janelle has a BA in Business Administration with an emphasis on Accounting and Finance, an MBA, and a Masters in Secondary Education with emphasis on Mathematics.
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Why Fractions Matter and How Woot Math Can Help

Why Fractions Matter and How Woot Math Can Help

We know many students struggle to master fractions, and yet until recently, we didn’t know the full extent of the cost. From recent research, it is clear that facility with fractions is critical to higher mathematics and other advanced STEM fields.
As Dr. Robert Siegler and his colleagues found:
“A child’s knowledge of fractions in fifth grade predicts performance in high-school math classes, even after controlling for IQ, reading achievement, working memory, family income and education, and knowledge of whole numbers.”
Fractions: The new frontier for theories of numerical development.
— 2012, Siegler, R. S., Fazio, L. K., Bailey, D. H., & Zhou, X
With a slew of similar findings, it is clear that knowledge of fractions matter. The National Math Panel said it clearly in 2008: “…knowledge of fractions is the most important foundational skill not developed among American students.” Lack of this foundational skill remains equally evident in recent national testing. And yet, imagine the difference it would make if you could ensure that all students had the fluency with rational numbers we know they need to succeed. Woot Math supports you in making this difference. Teachers that use Woot Math report that it consistently increases both confidence and mastery of rational numbers. In only a few hours of use, teachers see measurable improvements in student performance. Here are a few specific ways that Woot Math’s personalized learning platform can help you ensure your students have the foundation they need to succeed.

We Support You In Your Instruction

Woot Math Adaptive Practice is designed to support a range of implementations. You can assign topics as part of an in-class rotation, for 1-on-1 instruction, or for further practice. The learning platform interleaves short-form instructional videos with engaging interactive problems. An easy to use teacher dashboard is provided so that you can monitor each student‘s progress, report on outcomes, and assign new topics. Woot Math typically recommends two to four sessions per week, 20 to 30 minutes per session (learn more about our implementation guidelines for elementary school and middle school students).

Content Is a Key Differentiator

Woot Math leverages learning sciences’ leading research on teaching rational numbers. “Adaptive technology can only be effective if it leverages quality supplemental content,” says Krista Marks, Woot Math CEO in Fractions Unlocked: Why Fractions Matter and how technology can help. Our fraction content is informed by decades of research in fraction education from organizations like the Rational Number Project. With funding from the National Science Foundation, we have demonstrated efficacy and effectiveness using Woot Math.

Digital Manipulatives Build Fluency

The ability to work with digital models has proven effective in developing conceptual understanding of fractions. Students need to experience making connections among different representations in order for them to make sense of fractions. In Woot Math, students are exposed to a wide variety of models, including fraction circles, fraction bars, number lines, set models and more. As students gain experience and exposure to a variety of models, they develop the strong mental images that they will need to succeed in math. Beth Wycoff, using Woot Math with all her 5-7th grade students, found:
“Woot Math has given me a practical and efficient way to take students individually from concrete to abstract understanding of fraction concepts. Students are able to construct fractions and visualize the problems they are solving.”

Adaptive Learning Platform

The promise of adaptive technology is the ability for software to tailor content to each individual student’s needs. But not all adaptive platforms (also known as personalized learning environments) adapt in the same way. In fact, there are huge variations in the adaptivity and recommendations that these systems can make. The Woot Math platform analyzes student work – not just a right or wrong answer – but their actual interactions with the models, manipulatives, and scratchpad. Because the adaptive platform understands the student’s interaction with each problem, it can make much more targeted decisions about what the student knows, what the student doesn’t know, and what gaps to help remediate. From our NSF-funded research, we know that our adaptive platform has shown dramatic improvements in student learning. Get your students started today!

Want to Learn More?

Dr. Terry Wyberg of the Rational Number Project provides tangible advice and practical tips for helping your students develop number sense in his article, Adding Fractions: Unlocking Confidence & Flexibility.
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