uBoost Releases Updated Report 'Why Student Recognition Programs Work'

Honolulu, Hawaii (PRWEB) July 23, 2009

uBoost released an updated report "Why Student Recognition Programs Work: Best Practices, Research, and Case Studies." The release includes recent findings of Harvard's Learn and Earn Program in NYC, reporting up to 40% increases in reading and math scores for program participants. The uBoost platform was used to help manage the program in NYC.

The report tracks classroom-based incentive programs across the country as well as research studies on the use of incentives to impact student academic achievement. Highlights from the latest report:    

Spark Program - NYC
The program, developed and evaluated by Roland Fryer and Harvard's Education Innovation Lab, pays seventh-graders up to $500 and fourth-graders as much as $250 for their performance on a total of 10 assessments.

• More than 8,000 students have collectively earned $1.25 million since September.
• About two-thirds of the 59 high-poverty schools in the program improved their scores since last

year's state tests by margins above the citywide average.

• At PS 188, 76 percent of the fourth grade students met or exceeded state benchmarks in

English - 39.6 percentage points higher than last year.

• At MS 343, 94 percent of the seventh grade students met or surpassed state standards in math

this year - 37.3 points higher than last year.

• Many reported seeing "indisputable academic benefits - including more motivation, better focus

and an increase in healthy competition for good grades among students."

Earning by Learning - Dallas
Students read books at their own pace and test for comprehension. Cash incentives are awarded for the number of tests passed within each EBL session.

• A Dallas ISD study in 2001 compared student TAAS results and found that EBL student TAAS

results were better than non-EBL students.

• In a Dallas ISD study in 2006, librarians, teachers, and school coordinators reported that: 1) EBL

students read more outside of class as evidenced by increased number of books read; 2)
although the cash reward was welcome, it was not the primary motivator for students to read;
3) students in the program demonstrated increased reading comprehension skills.

Learn about other recognition and rewards program in practice. A free copy of the report is available at http://www.uboost.com.

About uBoost
uBoost is an online performance recognition and rewards platform where points are awarded for positive behaviors and redeemed for relevant rewards. uBoost works across all age groups, curricula, and achievement levels and offers educators an innovative way to recognize incremental improvement.

Recognition in the form of points, performance-based honor badges, and a coveted spot on achiever leader-boards encourage students to put forth maximum effort. Students are able to choose rewards that interest them - they can purchase merchandise and gift cards; support their favorite charitable cause; customize their own safe, virtual environment; or participate in contests to win premium rewards such as iPods and Amazon.com gift cards. To maintain engagement, uBoost continues to offer new rewards and contests to keep up with students' changing interests and to ensure relevance throughout the school year.

uBoost partners directly with web-based educational publishers, district administrators, online schools, tutoring companies, and private education companies to design and implement student recognition and rewards programs. The platform is fully customizable so that the client has complete control over the points awarded and the selection of rewards available in the catalog.

For more information, visit http://www.uBoost.com or call 808.377.4810.

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