A Message From the Project Sponsor

Supplemental Learning Proof-of-Concept Project at GCA

I’ve been working on a project with four students from a local high-school in my home district of
Gilbert, Arizona. The students, three seniors and a junior, attend Gilbert Classical Academy (aka the GCA
Spartans), as does my own son who is a freshman. GCA is a high-achieving college preparatory academy
with a small campus, small student body, uniforms, mandatory classes in the arts and languages and a
one to one computing model, where every student gets a laptop at the beginning of the year to use both
at school and at home. Incidentally, GCA was the highest performing school in the state of Arizona on
the state-standard AIMS test, and at or near the top on SAT performance.

The project we’re currently executing is a proof-of-concept and feasibility exercise to evaluate the
effectiveness of providing students easy and targeted access to supplemental learning materials. By
supplemental learning materials, we’re talking primarily audio, video and mixed media, things like Khan
Academy videos and MIT’s open courseware. For this POC phase we’re focusing exclusively on math and
videos from the Khan Academy and a couple of other similar (free + high quality) sources. We’re testing
with five classes in three subjects: Calculus, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. Three classes will be provided
with multi-channel access to the right video on the right day for students to view outside of class and/
or campus (our “study” classes). Two classes will be “controls.” All five classes will get a survey at the
start of the experiment (see below – going out to all students this week) and at the end. The survey
responses, combined with project team objective and subjective input will help to establish whether a
larger and more formal study is warranted.

Below are the objectives and a high-level scope plan that I pulled from our Project Charter. Also check
out the blog site of our project team, and check back often as we’ll try to post updates from time to
time.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

This project will investigate and prototype a system (processes and tools) to expand the usage
of supplemental learning objects in a math curriculum, with a focus on computer automation to
make it easier for students to access these supplemental materials. Working with a team of GCA
students, establish the feasibility and, if determined to be feasible, create a conceptual process
and technology design for development in a future phase.

PRELIMINARY SCOPE DEFINITION:

1. Develop project plan
2. Confirm data collection requirements for three GCA math classes (Calculus, Pre-Calculus
and Algebra 2)
3. Develop baseline measurement survey design and distribution methodology
4. Collect local course content/syllabi and relevant state standards for the three classes
(first semester only)
5. Develop Excel database for storing class data
6. Cross-reference and link videos from the Khan Academy (khanacademy.org) to each
lesson and/or standard for the three classes (~60 videos for each class per semester)