Independent Study: Amplify Science for Middle School Has Significant Positive Impact on Student Learning

Curriculum materials designed for Next Generation Science Standards show promise

A gold-standard independent study led by the nonprofit research, development, and service agency WestEd, and with funding support by the National Science Foundation, found promising evidence that the Amplify Science middle school curriculum has a significant positive impact on student learning. Amplify Science is the leading phenomena-based curriculum for grades PreK–8. The program blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers. Amplify Science was developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science and the digital learning team at Amplify.

WestEd researchers found that:

• The estimated impact was statistically significant (p < 0.001) and corresponds to an effect size of 0.36. This impact is consistent with the average student using the Amplify Science curriculum moving up 14 percentiles compared to their peers who used other materials.
• The results were similar across gender and racial groups, and for students with varying levels of math and literacy achievement.
• More than 80 percent of teachers agreed that they and their students benefited from using Amplify Science curriculum.
• Almost 90 percent of teachers reported that Amplify Science supported them in engaging students in science discourse.

The randomized controlled study focused on physical science for grade 7 and included 28 teachers and more than 1700 students across three districts. The districts were of varying sizes and serve diverse populations that include multiple racial and ethnic groups, English Learners, and students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Click here to read the research findings from WestEd.

More About Amplify Science

As The Lawrence Hall of Science’s first curriculum designed to address three-dimensional science standards, Amplify Science reflects state-of-the-art practices in science teaching and learning. Each unit of Amplify Science engages students in a relevant, real-world problem where they investigate scientific phenomena, engage in collaboration and discussion, and develop models or explanations in order to arrive at solutions.