MySciLife® Pilot Research

The results are in - MySciLife works!

During the 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15 school years, MySciLife conducted research pilots with a limited number of teachers and classes. Each year, the pilot expanded. The results of the first two pilots, during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, have been compiled and are available below.

The most recent research study—from the MySciLife pilot conducted during the 2013-14 school year—compared the experience of classes using MySciLife with that of control group classes taught using traditional teaching methods, and by the same teacher.

The research explored two questions:

OUTCOME QUESTION:

What effect does social media-based learning have on middle-level science performance?

KEY FINDING:

Many MySciLife students achieved increases in content-knowledge that were equal to or better than those of control group students of the same teacher using traditional teaching methods.

PROCESS QUESTION:

How does social media-based learning affect student attitudes and perceptions about learning science?

KEY FINDING:

Teachers report that MySciLife is an effective instructional model that improves student experience in science: Students are motivated to produce and post high-quality work for peer review, and they enjoy learning from each other in a creative, collaborative process.

Read the full report in your choice of formats: