Student Time Estimations

This study is in progress. Working with a colleague from Teachers College of Columbia University, we are assessing the effect of realigning student's estimations regarding the amount of time it takes the average student to complete a Skill Builder.

Control

Students receive a Skill Builder on converting fractions, decimals, and percentages. The student is asked how much time the average student would require to get three problems correct in a row, based on the content. They are provided no feedback for their response and are simply sent into math content.

Experiment

Students receive a Skill Builder on converting fractions, decimals, and percentages. The student is asked how much time the average student would require to get three problems correct in a row, based on the content. They are provided feedback for their answer, through a histogram that displays the actual time required by over 3,000 students who have completed the problem set. A video explanation accompanies the histogram. Students are then sent into the math content as usual.

Click on the image to see the video.

After the first 4 problems with number 3 being different in the two conditions all the students do problems like this one.

Teacher Invitation - This was sent to teachers to recruit their participation.

Click here to try the problem set

Clicking on the link above will allow you to experience this study from the student's perspective. You will be randomly assigned to either the control or experimental conditions. Follow the link multiple times or refresh the preview page to experience each condition.

Bergman, P., Heffernan, N. & Ostrow, K. (In Preparation) A Randomized Controlled Trial see if we confront students with the typical amount of time it take to longer a today, does that help them better self-regulate.