Examining the Overall Impact of Computer-Based Mathematics Instruction on Math Achievement in an Alternative High School

Over the past decade, the United States has witnessed a remarkable surge in computer-based instruction, revolutionizing the way students learn and educators teach. This action research study aimed to investigate the overall impact of computer-based instruction on mathematics achievement in the alternative high school setting. The research design incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather comprehensive data for twenty high school students enrolled in an alternative high school setting. The quantitative data analysis involved examining pre-and post-test scores, graduation data, and final course grades to assess the effect of computer-based instruction on mathematics achievement. All of the students showed some improvement in scores from pre- to post-test. The results of the paired-t test for the pretest and post-test indicated that there is a significant difference between the mean and the standard deviation of the Apex Learning pretest (M = 44.2, SD = 18.5) and the posttest (M = 64.9, SD = 8.4), t (19) = 6.9, p < .001. The average mean increased by 20.7 points. The standard deviation of the posttest showed that the scores were more tightly clustered than the scores of the pretest. The scores of all twenty students exhibited a positive increase from the pretest to the posttest. The results provided insights into the improvement in students’ performance after engaging with the Apex Learning program. Qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews and a survey, were used to gain a deeper understanding of the students’ experiences with computer-based instruction. The findings have implications for educators and district policymakers in designing and implementing effective strategies to enhance mathematics learning for students enrolled in alternative educational environments. Keywords: Apex Learning mathematics program, online learning, alternative learning environment, college readiness, math achievement