Impact of BrainPOP Science on Student Performance

This case study presents an analysis of the correlation between student engagement with BrainPOP Science and their performance on the Florida Statewide Science Assessment (FSSA) in a specific Florida district. The study involved a sample size of 7,555 eighth-grade students from 32 middle schools, with 2,507 identified as BrainPOP Science users and 5,048 as non-users. The analysis utilized descriptive statistics and multilevel modeling to explore the relationship between the number of BrainPOP Science investigations completed and the students' FSSA scores. Results indicated that, on average, students experienced a 2 percentile point increase in their assessment scores for each investigation completed. Notably, English Language Learners (ELL) showed a significant improvement, with a 7 percentile point increase per investigation. The findings also highlighted notable gains among underrepresented groups in STEM, including female, Black, and Hispanic students, suggesting the potential for greater impact with continued use of BrainPOP Science throughout grades 6 to 8.