FASTT Math (acronym for ''Fluency and Automaticity through Systematic Teaching Technology'') is a mathematic

educational software Educational software is a term used for any computer software that is made for an educational purpose. It encompasses different ranges from language learning software to classroom management software to reference software. The purpose of all th ...

developed and released by

Scholastic Corporation Scholastic Corporation is an American multinational publishing, education, and media company that publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational materials for schools, teachers, parents, children, and other educational institutions. P ...

in 2005.

Design

The software comes in two variations one which is used by students and another used by teachers for managing and administering the program. The program gauges students understanding and fluency in math then provides linear instruction and assessments based on the student's skill. FASTT Math allows students to customize their interface based on unlocking different skins, based their skill level and proficiency in solving equations in the program's assessments. The software encourages daily use and provides regular assessments to determine the users skill level which is then rewarded, and allows for further progression through the program. The default program provides users with one lesson per day, however does allow for alterations to the default regime by the program's administrative variation.

FASTT Math Next Generation

In 2012, Scholastic released an

iPad The iPad is a brand of tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple that run the company's mobile operating systems iOS and later iPadOS. The IPad (1st generation), first-generation iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010. ...

based

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

app called ''Sushi Monster'' to serve as a preview for FASTT Math Next Generation, the app's features would test students on their mathematical knowledge in

addition Addition (usually signified by the Plus and minus signs#Plus sign, plus symbol, +) is one of the four basic Operation (mathematics), operations of arithmetic, the other three being subtraction, multiplication, and Division (mathematics), divis ...

and

multiplication Multiplication is one of the four elementary mathematical operations of arithmetic, with the other ones being addition, subtraction, and division (mathematics), division. The result of a multiplication operation is called a ''Product (mathem ...

. After releasing the app,

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company ( ; HMH) is an American publisher of textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, and reference works. The company is based in the Financial District, Boston, Boston Financial District. It was fo ...

released the full official version of FASTT Math Next Generation, with expanded use for Android devices and computer, with a target audience of users ranging from grade 2 to grade 9. Along with its digital programs, FASTT Math Next Generation also created corresponding worksheets covering material from the digital program.

Reception

In December 2011,

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public university, public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal ...

created an evaluation of FASTT Math based on a study conducted by the university to determine the effectiveness of FASTT Math in increasing student automaticity with equations. The study was conducted at two different

primary schools A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...

, at the first school a fourth grade class was selected to use FASTT Math while the fifth and sixth grade classes stood as control groups, while the second school its fourth grade class was selected to be the control group while the fifth and sixth grade classes were selected to use FASTT Math. The study found that the fourth grade control group that did not use FASTT Math showed more growth than the fifth and sixth grade students that did not use the FASTT Math program, by nearly eight facts on average. However sixth grade students that did use the FASTT Math program showed the most notable improvement out of the other tested groups that did use it.

References

{{reflist 2005 video games Android (operating system) games Children's educational video games IOS games Mathematical education video games Single-player video games Tom Snyder Productions games Video games developed in the United States Windows games Scholastic Corporation video games