Case Studies

Narragansett Regional School District, Baldwinville, MA

Adoption of RM Math Framework Edition at Narragansett School District.

In September, 2004, the Narragansett Regional School District was the recipient of a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education. The grant had been written around an ambitious program to transform the teaching and learning of math at the Middle School, and involved a major infusion of new technology, including 60 mobile computers and the deployment of a number of state-of-the-art interactive whiteboards. At the center of the technology vision for NRSD was RM Math Framework: RM Educational Software's award-winning middle and high school math program. Click on the pdf to read more!

Bayswater Middle School, Oxford, England

Bayswater Middle School is based in inner-city Oxford, England and has 220 pupils between the ages of nine and thirteen. Dean Martin, the Assistant Principal at Bayswater, has been teaching Math since 1997 although his subject specialism is in Physical Education. He became head of department in 1999 and has been using RM Math Framework Edition with his pupils for 15 months.

The school was keen to get involved with RM Math Framework Edition as it recognized that this was an opportunity that could benefit pupils. An innovative blend of interactive content, teaching tools and activities linked to a recently-introduced national mathematics curriculum framework, it was an exciting prospect for the school and the teachers.

Learning Gains
Undoubtedly, the impact of RM Math Framework Edition on standards at Bayswater will occur over a period of time, but there has been a definite marked improvement in pupils' work so far. Dean explains: "We have a lot of pupils leaving the school who are already attaining beyond their age-range standard. One of the reasons for its massive success is that we have a number of challenging pupils whose behavior is a cause for concern. The immediate impact of RM Math Framework Edition has been to stamp out this behavior. You see a noticeable change in the pupils as they come into RM Math Framework Edition classes, they are enthused and motivated and they are also achieving to their capabilities."

Enhancing Teaching and Learning
According to Dean, RM Math Framework Edition has every resource a teacher would ever want in one system, and the variety is crucial to learning. "Pupils need a variety of learning styles and activities to keep them motivated, and RM Math Framework Edition delivers this. My planning has become so much easier, as the resources are all there for me. This has allowed me to undertake a complete review of my teaching style; to get the best from my pupils with the resources I have available."

"RM Math Framework Edition enthuses the teacher to fill the pupils with enthusiasm, and this is what I see as its greatest benefit."

Bayswater Middle School, Oxford, England

Cleeve School is a mixed community Technology College with over 1,500 students. Technology College status means that the school has received additional funding to support a strong focus on IT in its curriculum. Cleeve gained TC status in September 1997, and one of its immediate objectives was to implement an interactive whiteboard in every classroom by the end of 2002. In this case study, Jo Pavey, Head of Math and Jon Thrower, a senior Math Teacher discuss the impact RM Math Framework Edition is having across the school in both teaching and learning.

“The school was looking for ways in which technology could add real value to subject learning and so were keen to become involved at the outset of RM Math Framework Edition,” Jo explains. “My first impressions of RM Math Framework Edition was wow! I thought it was very new and different. RM Math Framework Edition combined high quality materials with new technology that I could use as a key motivator in the department, whilst also having a significant impact on learning."

Jon has seen a noticeable change in his teaching since using RM Math Framework Edition. "It has definitely enhanced my teaching and approach. It sets learning objectives, provides materials and lesson overviews and with the help of flexible planning tools, you can tailor the resources to suit your pupils. It is also much easier to implement the framework standards using its resources and structure."

“RM Math Framework Edition helps teachers teach to the best possible standard”, comments Jon. "The pace of my lessons has dramatically improved with the use of these resources; RM Math Framework Edition provides scope for learning to be doubled and even quadrupled. Teachers will be amazed by what this service can offer both themselves and their pupils."

A key benefit that Jo noticed is that: "RM Math Framework Edition is highly motivating to pupils and teachers, and encourages interaction between them. We are seeing the impact on our results from the RM Math Framework Edition groups." Jon also highlights the increase in pupil motivation: "The games really motivate the kids and there is a huge stimulus for interaction as the kids love coming to the front to use the whiteboard. They always want to know when they can next use RM Math Framework Edition and want to do more."

In conclusion, Jo sums up, "I think RM Math Framework Edition is just what teachers want. All our math teachers here are itching to get their hands on it! The pupils are very excited by it and absolutely love using it. RM Math Framework Edition is revolutionizing our math teaching. I had always wanted to bring something new to the department that embraced technology and created a forward-thinking ethos, and this was it."