Does Membean Really Benefit You?

[membean.com]

BY LYNNEN HACKNEY '25, Staff Reporter

Membean is an online site designed to build word consciousness that, in the company ’s own words, “helps you achieve lasting outcomes by prioritizing higher order thinking over memorization. ” As you train, you answer vocabulary based on your assigned level determined by a diagnostic assessment. Most teachers at Bayside start Membean around fourth grade and continue with the program until tenth. Membean's frequent use raises a question: does it truly benefit students and their vocabulary?

To answer this question, we have to look into Membean’s technology and the way students use it. When you first begin Membean, you start with a placement test, which determines your level of vocabulary. Unfortunately, some students intentionally put themselves at inaccurate, mindlessly click buttons in order to receive a completion grade, which results in no learning whatsoever.

Because of student’s lack of effort on Bayside’s campus, Membean has been become less beneficial to our student body. If this abuse of Membean's technology is occurring on Bayside's campus, is it happening elsewhere? The future of Membean relies on student effort and attitude.

lower levels in order to make the work easier. An anonymous student confessed, “Sometimes it’s just easier to take the easy way out, especially because there’s no consequences to it. How easy it is just makes it feel like it’s okay. ” When this happens, students aren't actually building their vocabulary comprehension skills.

Another issue is that it is easy to put in minimal effort while doing Membean. Questions are timed, and the program allows you to wait until the last second to answer. How could this feature that is meant to push students to do more work lead less effective studying? Well, some students wait until the last second to answer every question, which leads to them doing fewer questions than a typical, worthwhile session. Additionally, some students [membean.com]