Published Resources Details Thesis

Author
Pollard, J.
Title
A software engineering approach to the integration of computer technology into mathematics education
Type of Work
PhD thesis
Imprint
University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD, 2005
Url
http://library.uq.edu.au/record=b2214530~S7
Subject
Queensland
Abstract

This thesis explores, from the perspective of the software engineer, the application of computers to the teaching of secondary school mathematics. It identifies ways in which the uptake of computers in mathematics teaching can be encouraged, and show how the software engineer, working in partnership with the teacher, can play a pivotal role in enhancing teachers' use of technology. By conducting a number of interviews and undertaking several case studies with practising secondary school mathematics teachers, the research identifies the key factors influencing the integration of computers into the classroom. These factors range from the adequacy of teacher training through to the design of appropriate didactic software. The emphasis throughout is on the role the software engineer can play in the creation of software that will be used successfully by the teacher and will make a significant contribution to the overall teaching of mathematics. Cooperative teacher and software engineer partnerships are trialled in depth through the case studies. The outcome is the development of a software architecture aimed at creating educational software products that are adaptable to the pedagogical and epistemological orientations, and consequently the teaching practices, of individual teachers. The study also explores the various views mathematics teachers have of integrating technology; model the major factors influencing the integration of technology by mathematics teachers, and explore how these factors interrelate; explore processes of co-developing educational software with mathematics teachers; suggest how teacher training can be modified to more effectively encourage and assist mathematics teachers to integrate computers; categorize the various types of mathematics educational software; categorize the various educational tasks found in mathematics software; and develop an underlying reference architecture to create mathematics educational software that can be readily adapted to meet teachers' individual needs.