MathFactLab DIY Video-Based Professional Development Guide
This is a general-purpose guide for those introducing MathFactLab to faculty or colleagues. It is designed so that it can be used in a variety of settings, from large group to individual. The below tutorial videos can be used as a training-for-the-trainer or could be shown directly to those who will be using the program.
At each step below, you'll find a video tutorial along with a brief summary of its contents. Most steps will also provide links for further reading.
Watching the tutorials will take about 20-25 minutes in total. While not all specific details will be remembered, teachers most likely will come away after watching these tutorials familiar with the tools that they will have at their disposal when implementing MathFactLab with their students.
Table of Contents
- Overview of MathFactLab
- MathFactLab 101
- The Placement Test (Optional)
- The Student Experience
- Ways to Differentiate
- Reports
- Introductory Video for Students
- Additional Resources
Overview of MathFactLab (2:36)
MathFactLab is a strategy-based math fact program, helping children to build number sense as they develop a deep understanding of the basic math facts.
- The program has two learning modes: Addition/Subtraction & Multiplication/Division.
- In both learning mode, students work through a series of levels.
- Students practice the basic math facts with a variety of models: number lines, ten frames, rekenreks, bar diagrams, dice, dominoes, dots, area models and arrays of objects.
- Through repeated application of multiple strategies, students develop fluency and (in most cases) automaticity with all the basic math facts.
- The program was designed by a fifth-grade teacher following the guidance of current research on math fact instruction.
MathFactLab 101 (4:55)
The below tutorial video discusses the following:
- Learning modes
- The levels of the program and how to see them
- Getting familiar with the teacher dashboard
- Logging in options for students and login cards
- Placement tests
- Editing student settings - both for groups and individuals
- Teaching Tools: How to use MathFactLab for direct instruction
Further Reading
- Editing Individual Student Settings
- Editing Student Settings for a Group
- Changing Learning Modes
- Teaching Tools
The Placement Test (2:38)
As the previous video introduced the placement test, consider this one to be optional.
The below video goes into further detail about the placement test, covering the following topics:
- Purpose of the placement test
- The warm-up
- The first operation's assessment (addition or multiplication)
- The second operation's assessment (subtraction or division)
- Student placement
- Overriding placement test results
- Understanding the student welcome screen
Further Reading
The MathFactLab Student Experience (4:16)
This tutorial video covers the following topics:
- The student dashboard
- Student practice activities
- Requirements for unlocking the Level Lifter
- Level Lifter assessments
- Student Level Lifter reports
- Requirements if students do not initially pass the Level Lifter
Further Reading
- Point Scoring to Unlock Level Lifters
- Level Lifters
- Level Lifter Passing Requirement (Adjusting Whoopsies)
- Reassessments: Reassigning Placement Tests
- Level Lifter Interviews: An Alternative Means of Assessment
- Super-Advanced Levels
- Graduate Levels
Ways to Differentiate (7:17)
MathFactLab has been built on the premise that teachers understand their students' needs better than algorithms. With that in mind, MathFactLab provides multiple options for adjusting student settings to better meet those needs.
Our differentiation tutorial video covers the following topics:
- Adjusting Fluency rates
- Adjusting Whoopsies (Passing Requirements)
- Giving Level Lifter interviews
- Unlocking Level Lifters
- Advancing students manually
- Turning on/off the fingers trick
Further Reading
- Ways to Differentiate to Meet Student Needs
- How to Change Student Fluency Rates
- Level Lifter Passing Requirement (Adjusting Whoopsies)
- Level Lifter Interviews: An Alternative Means of Assessment
- How Teachers Can Manually Unlock Level Lifters for Students
- Advice for When Student(s) Are Not Making Expected Progress
Reports
We do not have a tutorial video on MathFactLab's reporting tools, but you should find all the details you require in these two help docs:
Please note: Currently, not all of our reports are printable/downloadable. Making them so is high on our to-do list.
Introductory Video for Students (6:35 & 2:05)
The below video is not needed for teacher PD. It is simply listed here so that teachers know that they have this resource available to them if they wish to use it to introduce MathFactLab to their students.
Note: This tutorial is broken into two parts. Part I should be shown prior to students' first login. Part II should be shown before the second or third student login.
This two-part student introduction tutorial covers the following topics:
- Why working on math facts will be helpful
- Logging in
- The introductory text
- The placement test
- Student progress tables
- Student dashboards
- Practice activities
- Level Lifters
Additional Resources
- Bilingual Parent Letter
- The Level Lifter Challenge - A MathFactLab Game
- Student Progress Tables (Downloadable)
- The Assign Button
- Using MathFactLab on an iPad
- MathFactLab Certificates for Students
Got feedback for us on this help doc? Click here.