Calculator Technologies and Females‚ Mathematics Learning:A Pilot Study

Year: 2010

Author: Hill, Janelle, Forgasz, Helen

Type of paper: Refereed paper

Abstract:
The aim of this study was to begin to investigate whether a relationship existed between females’ attitudes to calculator technology and their achievement and participation in higher-level mathematics. The sample size was small. However, the results show that most of the participants believed that technologies such as graphics and Computer Algebra System (CAS) calculators are obstacles to learning higher-level mathematics and did not enable a better understanding of mathematical concepts to be gained. The females in this study did not find mathematics useful and relevant in their lives except as a vehicle for university entry. This finding invites further research on a larger scale.

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