STEAMed Magazine October 2015 | Page 21

Brooklake’s success of using Tiggly isn’t an isolated case; over 1,000 classrooms across the U.S. have begun to implement Tiggly Math manipulatives into their daily curriculum and educators are reporting great success. The research examining the learning outcomes from using Tiggly supports teacher reported observations emphasizing the importance of manipulatives during digital play. rounds of individual sessions with 47 children in metropolitan New York City and Washington, DC. Along with increased math understanding, children who used Tiggly Math Learning System showed greater engagement. The vast majority reported that children found the content exciting, spending extended periods of time playing -- reaching over 20 minutes per session. RESEARCH BEHIND TIGGLY MATH A study examining the use of Tiggly Math Learning System showed students ages four and five achieved higher math scores and engagement outcomes when playing with the manipulatives paired with the apps (Chef, Addventure, and Cardtoons). Specifically, the study found that after only two weeks of use, children’s early number skills improved by as much as 71 percent for those who paired the apps with the learning manipulatives. Children had an overall increase across a battery of math skills improving an average of 21 percent. Conducted by the independent research firm PlayScience, the study examined the results between a pre- and post-test, based on selected items from the Standard Test of Early Mathematics Ability (TEMA), focusing on children's basic math skills and examining knowledge and application of math concepts. Research was conducted through two STUDY METHODOLOGY 
 The study focused on children's basic math skills, examining knowledge and application of math concepts. During the first session, children completed selected items from TEMA (Ginsburg & Baroody, 2003) to measure math knowledge before playing the apps. All students were given the Tiggly math suite apps, and half were given the manipulatives to take home and play. At the end of a two-week period, children completed items from the TEMA post-test to measure the impact of Tiggly’s math apps with and without the Tiggly Math manipulatives. Parents were also asked to complete a survey to reflect on their overall experience with Tiggly, as well as interviewed for additional feedback. Tiggly's presence in schools is growing, due in part to teachers' desires
 to add a tactile dimension --one that aligns with early childhood curriculum--to their students' digital learning. Tiggly’s learning
 systems have been used successfully in 21