Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students

The use of educational software offers many advantages but may also become a frustrating experience for teachers and students that lack experience of its use. We presented an evaluation of the use of Maths educational software to support the learning of first-year primary students in the city of Maz...

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Main Authors: Aníbal Zaldívar-Colado, Ramón Ismael Alvarado-Vázquez, Diana Elizabeth Rubio-Patrón
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-10-01
Series:Education Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/7/4/79
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author Aníbal Zaldívar-Colado
Ramón Ismael Alvarado-Vázquez
Diana Elizabeth Rubio-Patrón
author_facet Aníbal Zaldívar-Colado
Ramón Ismael Alvarado-Vázquez
Diana Elizabeth Rubio-Patrón
author_sort Aníbal Zaldívar-Colado
collection DOAJ
description The use of educational software offers many advantages but may also become a frustrating experience for teachers and students that lack experience of its use. We presented an evaluation of the use of Maths educational software to support the learning of first-year primary students in the city of Mazatlan, Mexico. One of our reasons was to determine whether the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) would motivate students and make learning easier, more interesting and even fun. Three surveys were conducted wherein the following people participated: teachers who teach Maths in the first-year of primary school; managers of the computing facilities used in this study; and first-year primary students. Due to time constraints, the three surveys were only applied in three schools, in two shifts in each school. Overall, our study suggests three key aspects for learning to be improved through ICTs, namely: (1) learning activities should be designed considering the use of educational software; (2) learning materials and activities should include guiding material to facilitate learning; and (3) promote learning through play. We propose a few design principles for educational software to support learning better and more effectively.
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spelling doaj.art-c923ee69cc0d418fa54cb6b00f8855342022-12-22T01:58:28ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022017-10-01747910.3390/educsci7040079educsci7040079Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School StudentsAníbal Zaldívar-Colado0Ramón Ismael Alvarado-Vázquez1Diana Elizabeth Rubio-Patrón2Facultad de Informática Mazatlán, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Av. de los Deportes y LeonismoInternacional, C.P. 82017, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MéxicoFacultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Av. de los Deportes y LeonismoInternacional, C.P. 82017, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MéxicoUniversidad TecMilenio, Campus Mazatlán, Av. Marina Mazatlán 6102, La Marina Mazatlán, C.P. 82113Mazatlán, Sinaloa, MéxicoThe use of educational software offers many advantages but may also become a frustrating experience for teachers and students that lack experience of its use. We presented an evaluation of the use of Maths educational software to support the learning of first-year primary students in the city of Mazatlan, Mexico. One of our reasons was to determine whether the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) would motivate students and make learning easier, more interesting and even fun. Three surveys were conducted wherein the following people participated: teachers who teach Maths in the first-year of primary school; managers of the computing facilities used in this study; and first-year primary students. Due to time constraints, the three surveys were only applied in three schools, in two shifts in each school. Overall, our study suggests three key aspects for learning to be improved through ICTs, namely: (1) learning activities should be designed considering the use of educational software; (2) learning materials and activities should include guiding material to facilitate learning; and (3) promote learning through play. We propose a few design principles for educational software to support learning better and more effectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/7/4/79educational softwarelearningmathsprimary school
spellingShingle Aníbal Zaldívar-Colado
Ramón Ismael Alvarado-Vázquez
Diana Elizabeth Rubio-Patrón
Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students
Education Sciences
educational software
learning
maths
primary school
title Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students
title_full Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students
title_fullStr Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students
title_short Evaluation of Using Mathematics Educational Software for the Learning of First-Year Primary School Students
title_sort evaluation of using mathematics educational software for the learning of first year primary school students
topic educational software
learning
maths
primary school
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/7/4/79
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