Skip to main content
COMMUNITY:
Evaluation Reports

Implementation Evaluation of Cyberchase Season 8 Summer Challenge - FULL STUDY

October 20, 2010 | Media and Technology

As part of a National Science Foundation grant for Season 8 of Cyberchase, Thirteen/WNET produced Summer Challenge broadcasts with accompanying online and offline activities to be posted weekly for eight weeks in the Summer of 2010. Summer Challenge learning opportunities included viewing broadcast and online half-hour episodes; viewing short video excerpts; earning points and rewards online by answering trivia questions about episodes; making one's own games; and doing at-home activities. To learn how children engaged in the opportunities and to explore strengths and weaknesses of the online and offline activities in engaging children, Multimedia Research collected website usage data from two user groups: a random sample of 400 Summer Challenge website users and a recruited sample of 101 rising 4th graders who received a weekly announcement of Cyberchase Summer Challenge opportunities. The recruited users were also interviewed by phone once mid-summer and once at the end of the Challenge period. The overarching goals of the implementation evaluation were to learn how children engaged in the Summer Challenge opportunities and to explore strengths and weaknesses of Challenge activities in engaging children. Cyberchase is the Emmy Award-winning mathematics series and website on PBS KIDS GO! using broadcast, web, new media and educational outreach to impact millions nationwide. Designed for children ages 8 to 11 and packed with mystery, humor, and action, Cyberchase's mission is to improve kids' problem-solving and math skills, and inspire them with confidence and enthusiasm toward math. The TV series airs daily on PBS KIDS GO! across the country, and the website (pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase) offers over 100 math games and activities for kids, video streaming of full episodes and clips, and a Parents & Teachers site with lesson plans, activities and tips for adults. Cyberchase reaches across platforms with apps for the SMART Board and iPhone. The traveling bilingual museum exhibit, Cyberchase: The Chase Is On!, continues to tour the country and is permanently installed at the Children's Museum of Houston.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • 2013 06 04 B Flagg Photo
    Evaluator
    Multimedia Research
  • Thirteen/WNET
    Contributor
  • Citation

    Funders

    NSF
    Funding Program: AISL
    Award Number: 0840274
    Funding Amount: 1500000
    Resource Type: Summative
    Discipline: Education and learning science | Mathematics
    Audience: Elementary School Children (6-10) | Families | Museum/ISE Professionals | Evaluators
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Broadcast Media | Websites, Mobile Apps, and Online Media

    If you would like to edit a resource, please email us to submit your request.