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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-10-01
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Series: | Education Sciences |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:54:22Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c923ee69cc0d418fa54cb6b00f885534 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2227-7102 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:54:22Z |
publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Education Sciences |
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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