A school district implemented a new digital learning platform that includes interactive exercises, multimedia content, and real-time progress tracking...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A school district implemented a new digital learning platform that includes interactive exercises, multimedia content, and real-time progress tracking. The platform was initially used only for advanced mathematics courses but was later expanded to include basic arithmetic courses, with the addition of animated tutorials and gamification elements specifically for the basic arithmetic version. A district administrator argues that the animated tutorials and gamification elements were added primarily to improve learning outcomes for struggling students.
Which statement, if true, would most directly support the administrator's claim?
Internal district emails reveal that the curriculum committee requested the animated tutorials and gamification elements to make the basic arithmetic courses more engaging for students who had been performing poorly in traditional instruction.
The digital learning platform used in advanced mathematics courses includes more sophisticated analytics than the version used for basic arithmetic.
Educational research shows that animated tutorials can sometimes distract students from core mathematical concepts and reduce comprehension.
The development of animated tutorials and gamification elements for the basic arithmetic courses required significantly more time and resources than the original platform features.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A school district implemented a new digital learning platform that includes interactive exercises, multimedia content, and real-time progress tracking." |
|
| "The platform was initially used only for advanced mathematics courses" |
|
| "but was later expanded to include basic arithmetic courses, with the addition of animated tutorials and gamification elements specifically for the basic arithmetic version." |
|
| "A district administrator argues that the animated tutorials and gamification elements were added primarily to improve learning outcomes for struggling students." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A district administrator claims that special features added to the basic arithmetic version of a digital learning platform were intended primarily to help struggling students.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that a digital learning platform was first used for advanced math, then expanded to basic arithmetic with additional features, and presents an administrator's claim about why these specific features were added.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The administrator claims the animated tutorials and gamification elements were added primarily to improve learning outcomes for struggling students
- To support this claim, we need evidence that shows the intent behind adding these features was specifically to help struggling students
- The right answer should provide direct evidence of the intent to help struggling students, ideally through documentation or statements from decision-makers showing this was the primary motivation
Internal district emails reveal that the curriculum committee requested the animated tutorials and gamification elements to make the basic arithmetic courses more engaging for students who had been performing poorly in traditional instruction.
✓ Correct
- Shows internal emails revealing the curriculum committee specifically requested these features for students performing poorly in traditional instruction
- This directly demonstrates the intent was to help struggling students and provides concrete evidence of the decision-making rationale that matches the administrator's claim perfectly
The digital learning platform used in advanced mathematics courses includes more sophisticated analytics than the version used for basic arithmetic.
✗ Incorrect
- States that advanced math courses have more sophisticated analytics than basic arithmetic version
- This comparison doesn't address why animated tutorials and gamification were added to basic arithmetic and doesn't provide any evidence about intent to help struggling students
Educational research shows that animated tutorials can sometimes distract students from core mathematical concepts and reduce comprehension.
✗ Incorrect
- Presents research showing animated tutorials can distract and reduce comprehension
- This would actually weaken the administrator's claim rather than support it by suggesting these features might harm rather than improve learning outcomes
The development of animated tutorials and gamification elements for the basic arithmetic courses required significantly more time and resources than the original platform features.
✗ Incorrect
- Notes that development required significantly more time and resources
- Resource allocation doesn't indicate the purpose or intent behind the decision and doesn't connect to struggling students or learning outcome improvement