The Effects of Immediate Correctness Feedback on Student Learning, Understanding, and Achievement

Abstract

There is a national push from many directions to improve student achievement in all STEM areas. A study done by Harvard University's Program on Education Policy and Governance (HuffPost, 2012) found that the United States students are making gains at a fraction of the rate of other countries. ASSISTments is a free online program that allows students to submit homework online. With this program it is possible that students are able to be given hints to assist them in completing problems and then receive immediate feedback on the correctness of their answers. This study examined the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of using an online homework submission program on student achievement in 7th grade mathematics. This study used a quantitative approach in which once class was used as a study group and three classes were used as a control group. While all classes still received the same instruction, the study group used the online homework submission program which provided hints on problems and immediate correctness feedback, and the control group submitted homework using the traditional paper and pencil method and was provided next day feedback. The researcher looked for possible relationships between student achievement and the use of the online homework submission program over the course of a full chapter in the mathematical curriculum.