High dosage tutoring in pre-vocational secondary education: Experimental evidence from Amsterdam

We present first results from an experimental evaluation of a high dosage math tutoring program implemented in a secondary school for pre-vocational education located in a low-income neighborhood in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. From a pool of 98 students in their first year of secondary school (aged 12-13) 49 were randomly assigned to receive 2-on-1 tutoring. Treated students received one class period of personalized tutoring daily in the first 16 weeks of the school year. Outcome test scores were observed at the end of the first semester and at the end of the school year. We find treatment effects of 0.44 (p<0.01) and 0.72 (p<0.01) control group standard deviations after one semester on a verbal math test (with math word problems) and a nonverbal math test (math without textual context) respectively. The results indicate substantial learning gains. On the nonverbal math test, treated students gained statistically significantly more in one semester than control students gained in the entire school year.

PENDAMPINGAN PENERAPAN BIMBINGAN PRIBADI DAN BIMBINGAN BELAJAR MATEMATIKA UNTUK MEMBANGUN RESILIENSI SISWA KELAS 6 SD CAHAYA BANGSA UTAMA

ABSTRACTAt the beginning of academic year of 2018/2019, grade 6 students of Cahaya Bangsa Utama Elementary School were inclined to be saturated, bored, and troubled about drilling method for Final Exam preparation. They frequently grumbled when they were doing some tasks, especially math. This behavior inhibits student’s learning process and make them less resilient. Therefore, the purpose of the activities of Community Service is to guide vice principal of student affairs to conduct personal guidance program and math tutoring program (assisted by grade 6 teacher and math teacher. Based on growth mindset theory, personal guidance program facilitates the students to attain positive perception of math. They, accordingly, understand the benefit of math toward their life, both today and future days. Growth mindset theory also underlines that talents and skills are not predetermined at birth, but cultivated through efforts, shaperned and trained; therefore math tutoring may build students’ resilience in doing math exercises.