FIREFIGHTERS

on the edge of wildland.

Michele Steinberg, director of wild re for the National Fire Protection Association, called for a universal code that would require all homes and businesses in the wild re-prone areas to adhere to re-resistant building standards.

come up with personalized interventions. But to say we’re going to have you spend more time on technology, I think we need a more holistic x.”

A 2019 Johns Hopkins study found students in some subgroups using Zearn made statistically signi cant progress but overall results were less signi cant. Students in schools that used Zearn for more hours a week generally saw more improvement than those that used it for fewer hours. Teachers in the study generally liked the program and felt it supported student learning.

Even so, many teachers reported the format of Zearn —which requires students to work independently and to read, listen, and type responses —made it hard for some students to use.

Meanwhile, students who used Zearn in the study were less likely to express con dence in their math skills compared with students at schools that didn’t use Zearn. A potential explanation, the study authors wrote, was that students

“Unfortunately, time and time again, what we see is that communities rebuild in the same way in the same areas as those that burned to the ground,” Steinberg said. “Without a new approach, we’re destined to repeat history at our own peril against a erce and unrelenting opponent. We won’t stop wild res from occurring, but codes and standards are the means to better withstand and lessen impact in the wildland urban interface.” may have found the Zearn material “more challenging than previously experienced, which may have affected their feelings toward mathematics in general.”

Webb said these types of ndings underscore the importance of coupling digital platforms with instruction from teachers and opportunities for students to work through math problems with their peers. It’s also critical for teachers to get training — something that has become much more challenging as teachers lose their planning periods to cover for colleagues or can’t go to conferences due to substitute shortages, Webb said.

Arturo Cortez, an assistant professor of learning sciences and human development and director of e Learning To Transform (LiTT) Video Gaming Lab at the University of Colorado, said the teachers he works with who already use Zearn love it because it helps them see quickly which students got the lesson and which need more help.

Zearn also has the potential to e failure by local, state and federal governments to impose preventative building codes is increasing the re problem, added Shane Ray, president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association.

“Codes and standards established through a consensus process are a minimum and they should not be picked apart in a political environment,” Ray said. “ e more buildings built to an outdated or weakened code in the interface between the bridge divides between the home and the classroom and help parents better support their children’s learning, Cortez said.

He cautioned, though, that teachers need opportunities to learn how to use the program, play with it, and think through how it can help their students —not just a perfunctory session to get familiar with the interface. It’s also important to see how —and whether —students engage with the tool.

“With a lot of digital tools, we sit kids in front of them and don’t spend time with them while they are using them,” he said. “What makes them engaging? What makes kids have that commitment? And how do we create environments like that in the classroom?” forest and the city, and where re departments are understa ed, undertrained or lack resources, is increasing the re problem in America.” is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Colorado schools can sign up for Zearn Math for the 2023-24 school year.

Chalkbeat Senior Reporter Ann Schimke contributed reporting.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.