Improving Achievement Using Digital Pedagogy: Impact of a Research Practice Partnership in New Zealand

TLDR: In this article, the authors report the impact of a research-practice partnership among nine collaborating schools and researchers in Auckland, New Zealand on improving learning processes and achievement in digital instruction.

Abstract: This present study reports the impact of a research–practice partnership among nine collaborating schools and researchers in Auckland, New Zealand. The goals of the partnership were to refine digital instruction in ways that would result in improved learning processes and achievement. The partners employed a design-based research approach to iteratively develop and test changes to the pedagogy. Results indicate moderate to large effect sizes in writing, and small effect sizes in reading and mathematics. Results also indicate increasing effects over time in reading and writing, but not in mathematics. Educational effects included greater use of discussions by teachers and greater use of open-ended activity types. These outcomes are discussed in relation to features of the partnership as well as digital pedagogy.