Franklin Square Union Free School District uses innovative math technology

“It complements our math program. It makes math interactive. I like how the students are excited to do it.””

After Franklin Square Union Free School District joined Digital Promise's League of Innovative Schools, teachers began using innovative classroom technology. One example is already in the district's math classrooms. Teachers started using Magma Math, a K–12 digital mathematics platform built in Sweden and used by multiple U.S. school districts, that lets students show their full thought process on a paper-like screen, making student thinking visible and supporting interactive classroom teaching.

Henrik Appert, founder and CEO of Magma Math, explained how Magma Math supports student thinking and teacher decision-making in mathematics instruction. He said students' struggles with math led them to create the platform.

Appert said that through Magma Math, students can show their work by typing, drawing, speaking, or taking photos; the platform analyzes it, offers feedback, and gives teachers real-time insights into student understanding. He added that teachers can also use students' work to guide classroom discussion, identify learning gaps, and tailor instruction.

Appert said that the platform is very intentional about AI use. He explained that AI helps interpret handwritten student work, give them immediate feedback, and surface learning insights. In addition, AI supports teachers through onboarding and ongoing meeting notes.

He also described Franklin Square School District as an innovative partner and highlighted benefits for students and reduced administrative work for teachers. Appert said Magma Math works with tens of thousands of schools across eight countries and around 30–40 Long Island school districts.

“We've been so excited to partner with Franklin Square ever since we initiated the partnership. Because it's an opportunity to learn from the amazing teachers, the staff, and the students within the district about how we can make the platform support their learning outcomes even more,” Appert said. “We're just very proud to be a partner to such a forward-thinking district, and also to be partnered with such a great leader as Dr. Jared Bloom.”

Magma Math is GDPR compliant, which means it adheres to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, a strict privacy and security law that protects the personal data of individuals inside the EU and EEA. Appert assured that the platform limits its collection and use of encrypted personal data.

“I wouldn't be worried as a parent because it's about how we drive good pedagogy, and it's never about students being isolated on a screen,” Appert said. “It's more about making students' thinking visible and letting them learn from one another.”

Appert said Magma Math also offers teachers virtual and on-site training, regular meetings, and direct in-person support.

Jared Bloom, superintendent of Franklin Square Union Free School District, shared the district’s view of Magma Math after Sewanhaka School District adopted the platform. He said students from kindergarten through 12th grade use the platform, more often in upper grades, to show their mathematical reasoning and help teachers identify strengths and gaps.

Bloom said that frequent users grew 7.2 percentile points more than low-use students; students completing advanced problems showed notably stronger growth, reported as 66 percent on average. He added that effectiveness is assessed using classroom data, teacher and student perspectives, STAR assessments, computer-adaptive standardized tests developed to measure a student's academic achievement and growth in reading, math, and early literacy and New York State assessment scores.

“We're very transparent about the tools that we use here in Franklin Square. Our theme this year is balanced, bold, and built for tomorrow,” Bloom said. “We use tools when it's necessary to use tools, but we also believe in unplugged activities and making sure that we're giving kids lots of time off screen, and we're only using a screen when it's necessary.”

Danielle Sammarco, math/science coach of the Franklin Square Union Free School District, said the district chose this platform because it aligns with the district’s existing math program, Go Math. She added that Magma recently released Fact Fluency, a dedicated tool to help students master basic math facts.

Sammarco said the platform helps teachers with its features, including live work views, replay, heat maps, differentiated question levels, and data to inform instruction.

“There are so many features that I just find are so beneficial. It helps the teachers make informed instructional decisions,” she said. “It complements our math program. It makes math interactive. I like how excited the students are to do it. It's very engaging for them and motivating.”

Franklin Square Union Free School District uses innovative math technology

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