Primary school numeracy boosted by online tool, claims Edinburgh social enterprise ahead of standardised testing

Sumdog gamified learning - pic credit Kevin Jarrett

An online maths tool used in Scottish schools has improved proficiency among pupils who have used it, a new study has shown.

A study of the use of online numbers programme ‘Sumdog’ among 764 students across 63 Glasgow Primary Schools found pupils who spent an hour a week or more progressed three times faster than those who didn’t in six months.

Developers claim the Sumdog learning games can relieve stress felt by teachers ahead of planned new online standardised assessments in primary schools in Scotland.

Sumdog, set up in 1994 by a social enterprise with headquarters in Edinburgh, has been designed to align with the Curriculum for Excellence.

Maths Education coordinator at the University of Glasgow, Andrew Gallacher, who independently reviewed the study, said the results were “really significant”.

The company also conducted a survey of 252 Scottish teachers which showed three quarters believe preparing pupils for online assessments, thought to be part of the Scottish Government’s new plans for standardised testing in primary schools, will be ‘challenging’ or ‘very challenging’.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning at Glasgow City Council said the study showed online learning could improve attainment among pupils from more deprived backgrounds.

“A key finding of the study from our perspective was the improvement in proficiency recorded in those schools located in areas with a high level of social deprivation,” she said.

The Sumdog website is used by 2.8m children in 88 countries worldwide.