The role of app development and mobile computing in motivating the secondary mathematics classroom
Abstract
Description
AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN
DEVELOPING THEIR OWN MOBILE APPLICATION. INCORPORATING MOBILE
DEVELOPMENT INTO THE CLASSROOM CAN INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE
FIELDS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS. IN THIS PAPER I
PRESENT A STUDY DONE WITH A GROUP OF SOPHOMORE LEVEL STUDENTS WHO
CREATED THEIR OWN MATHEMATICS APPS WITH NO PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE. THE
AIM OF THIS STUDY IS TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED AND MOTIVATIONAL
APPEAL OF SECONDARY MATHEMATICS STUDENTS TAUGHT BASIC STATE OF TEXAS
EXAM CONCEPTS WITH THE USE OF THE PROPOSED MOBILE DEVELOPMENT LABS.
STUDENTS IN THIS STUDY USED ALGEBRAIC AND GEOMETRIC MODELS TO DESCRIBE
SITUATIONS, GEOMETRIC TRANSFORMATIONS, PROPORTIONS, AND USED PROBABILITY
MODELS. STUDENTS PRACTICED THE CONCEPTS AND THEN CREATED A MOBILE
APPLICATION RELATED TO EACH CONCEPT TAUGHT BY THEIR TEACHERS. USING MIT’S
APPINVENTOR, STUDENTS EASILY DEVELOPED GAMES BY PUTTING PUZZLE PIECES
TOGETHER. AN INCREASE IN CONFIDENCE WAS OBSERVED AND 43% OF THE STUDENTS
INCREASED THEIR BENCHMARK SCORE. THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY DEMONSTRATE
THAT STUDENTS ARE MOTIVATED TO LEARN THEIR MATH CONCEPTS BY DEVELOPING
MOBILE APPS.
PDF; 35 pgs.
PDF; 35 pgs.