Zearn
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|
 Zearn Corporate logo | |
| Company type | 501(c)(3) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Educational technology |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | Shalinee Sharma (CEO) |
| Website | zearn |
Zearn is an American nonprofit educational software organization founded in 2012. Its online platform, Zearn Math, is designed to teach mathematical concepts to schoolchildren.[1]
History
[edit]In 2012, Zearn was co-founded by CEO Shalinee Sharma[1] and Evan Rudall, former CEO of Uncommon Schools, founded Zearn as a nonprofit organization to develop interactive digital math content for elementary school children.[2] The organization received $4.4 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,[3] part of the foundation's $1 billion investment into math education.[4]
The organization develops Zearn Math, an online interactive math curriculum for schoolchildren. As of 2022, it was being used by 25% of US elementary school students and more than one million middle school students according to its own tracking of sign-ons.[3]
An evaluation report by Johns Hopkins School of Education in 2019 found that overall perceptions of Zearn Math were very positive, with the smaller group model of the curriculum a particular strength.[5] Differences in achievement gains were small but "statistically significant" and the report recommended further support be provided for independent learning and individual needs.[5]
Research
[edit]An Efficacy Research Study on the use of Zearn in Nebraska showed that Black and Latino students, English learners and those who qualified for free and reduced lunch who used Zearn programmatically achieved "significant proficiency gains" in state math assessment.[6]
Reviews
[edit]Zearn Math received a green rating for "meets expectations" across all categories of a review by independent nonprofit EdReports.[7] A study by Zearn analyzing the impact of Nebraska's education department's partnership with the company found that students who consistently used the platform had 2.5 times the growth of their state assessment scores than those who did not.[8] However, some parents and teachers in New York criticized the use of the platform for increasing students' screen time, decreasing teachers' instructional time, and focusing on test-preparation rather than critical thinking skills.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Manny Maceda (October 8, 2021). "Bringing Math to the Masses: A Conversation with Zearn CEO Shalinee Sharma". Bain & Company. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Whitmire, Richard (December 7, 2016). "A 'Founders' Excerpt: How 4 Visionary Entrepreneurs Joined Forces to Launch Uncommon Schools". The 74. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Daniel Mollenkamp (December 12, 2022). "What Is Zearn — the Math Platform the Gates Foundation Is Betting Big On?". EdSurge. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Klein, Alyson (October 19, 2022). "Why the Gates Foundation Is Investing $1.1 Billion in Math Education". Education Week. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Efficacy Study of Zearn Math in a Large Urban School District" (PDF). Johns Hopkins School of Education. April 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "Nebraska Invests in K-8 Math Acceleration and Analyzes Impact". EduRecoveryHub. Nebraska. November 3, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ "Summary of Alignment & Usability: Zearn, Math". edreports. 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Lauraine Langreo (April 4, 2023). "Using Tech to Accelerate Learning: One Teacher's Story". EducationWeek. Nebraska. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Lin, Sarah Belle (March 20, 2023). "Panel for Educational Policy approves near $1M contract for controversial digital math learning program". AMNY. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
External links
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