Lessons from Project Topeka: Research and Perspectives – Digital Promise

Lessons from Project Topeka: Research and Perspectives

From February 2020 through June 2022, Digital Promise supported middle school English language arts teachers across the country in using Project Topeka tools and resources to teach argumentative writing. As a technology-based tool, teachers were able to continue using it as schools turned to online learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through three successive implementation waves (winter 2020, fall semester 2020, and school year 2021–22), Digital Promise researchers conducted exploratory, mixed methods research on the nature of argumentative writing instruction; the ways in which teachers used an automated essay scoring and feedback tool and standards-aligned instructional resources in their instruction; and student growth under Project Topeka. Digital Promise also convened 16 teacher leaders in person in summer 2022 and virtually during fall semester 2022 to dive deeper into their teaching practices with and perceptions of AI as an instructional tool, based on their experiences with Project Topeka. The voices and expertise of those teacher leaders are infused throughout this research series.

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