The Impact of Handheld Graphing Calculator Use on Student Achievement in Algebra 1

The Impact of Handheld Graphing Calculator Use on Student Achievement in Algebra 1
Author: Joan I. Heller
Publisher:
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2005
Genre:
ISBN:

This study investigated the relationship between instructional use of handheld graphing calculators and student achievement in Algebra 1. Three end-of-course test forms were administered (without calculators) using matrix sampling to 458 high-school students in two suburban school districts in Oregon and Kansas. Test questions on two forms were drawn from Texas and Massachusetts publicly-released standardized test items, and the third form was custom-designed to emphasize conceptual understanding and math applications. All classes used Key Curriculum Press's "Discovering Algebra" textbook. Results showed that the more access students had graphing calculators, and the more instructional time in which graphing calculators were used, the higher the test scores. In addition, scores were significantly higher where teachers reported receiving professional development on how to use a graphing calculator in math instruction. Appended are: (1) Teacher Survey; (2) Classroom Survey; (3) End-of-Course Algebra Test Form T; (4) End-of-Course Algebra Test Form M; and (5) End-of-Course Algebra Test Form C. (Contains 19 tables.) [This work was also funded by Key Curriculum Press.].

The Impact of Using Technology on Student Achievement

The Impact of Using Technology on Student Achievement
Author: Barbara Renee Buckner
Publisher:
Total Pages: 498
Release: 2011
Genre: Calculators
ISBN:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of TI-Nspire graphing calculator use on student achievement and on teacher behavior variables of planning, teaching, and assessing. This study investigated the teaching of functions by teachers using the TI-Nspire graphing calculator versus teachers using a non-graphing scientific calculator. A review of the literature found that the emergence of calculators and computers has changed the way mathematics is both done and used (Ellington, 2006; Thorpe, 1989; & Kieran, 1992). Research also showed that students can effectively use a graphing calculator as an instructional tool to make and understand different types of representations (Choi-Koh, 2003; Colgan, 1993; and Drijvers & Doorman, 1996). Other studies have shown how graphing calculator use has engaged students in higher level thinking skills (Dessart, DeRidder, Charleen, & Ellington, 1999; Ellington, 2006; Graham & Thomas, 1998; Keller & Hirsch, 1998; Huntley, Rasmussen, Villarubi, Sangtong, & Fey, 2000; & Ronau et al., 2008). Since it is a relatively new tool, there is a limited amount of research on the classroom use of the TI-Nspire. The TI-Nspire is designed to link together multiple-representations within a single problem, so the concept of functions is an ideal context within which to study the impact of the TI-Nspire. This was a quasi-experimental study. The researcher gathered and analyzed pretest, post-test, and post post-test data on student performance on function concepts. The study included a 90 minute classroom observation of each class as well as document analysis of weekly questionnaires, daily lesson plans, and daily assessments. Vignettes employed classroom observations, document analysis, and thick description to triangulate the results of the qualitative analysis. During the summer prior to this study, all teachers attended 12 hours of training over the course of two days with a National Texas Instruments Instructor in which they were trained to use the TI-Nspire graphing calculator. Teachers were then given a TINspire, TI-Nspire emulator and access to online Atomic learning video training (Atomic Learning, 2011), to continue their exploration of the TI-Nspire. The week prior to the study, the teachers attended another day of professional development activity taught by a Texas Instruments Trained Cadre member. This "Function Focused Session" was six hours long and provided review on the TI-Nspire, specific training about teaching the function concept with the TI-Nspire, and time to create lesson plans and activities for this study. During the two weeks of treatment and two weeks of follow up, teachers met once a week for "Weekly Touchdown Sessions" a 90 minute meeting held after school to complete a weekly questionnaire, turn in lesson plans, assessments, and receive further professional development on the TI-Nspire. Providing a trained Texas Instruments Instructor on a weekly basis to answer questions, assist in providing direction for the following week, and meeting weekly with the teachers to complete questionnaires were vital strategies necessary to support teachers with this new technology tool and to assure their fidelity in treatment implementation and control maintenance. All professional development sessions were taught by Texas Instruments trained Instructors. The results from four teachers, each with one treatment class using the TI-Nspire and one control class using a non-graphing scientific calculator, were significant on the pre-test with the control group having a higher mean score than the treatment group and statistical significance on the post post-test with the treatment group having a higher mean score than the control group. While there was a statistically significant effect of Teacher Zeta on the post-post test in comparisons with the other teachers, most of the teacher effect was controlled for within the design of the study. To control for teacher effect, all teachers taught both a treatment and a control class. For each teacher, one of their two algebra classes was randomly assigned to treatment and the other was then assigned to control. There was not enough power in the data to properly analyze the effect of socioeconomic status and special education. This study supports the use of TI-Nspire graphing calculators in Algebra classrooms while studying the concept of functions. This study shows that, while using the TI-Nspire graphing calculator, the use of multiple representations and higher Depth of Knowledge activities can be used to improve student achievement, and impact classroom teaching, and lesson planning. While this study shows the impact of the TI-Nspire graphing calculator for the concept of functions, further research is needed to continue evaluating the impact of the TI-Nspire across additional mathematics topics.

Implementation of Graphing Calculator in Intermediate Algebra with Function Approach in Community College

Implementation of Graphing Calculator in Intermediate Algebra with Function Approach in Community College
Author: Nataliya Reznichenko
Publisher:
Total Pages: 17
Release: 2006
Genre:
ISBN:

A major goal of this paper is to document changes that occurred in developmental mathematics classrooms in the community college setting when the graphing calculator (GC) Texas Instruments (TI)-83 was introduced to students. The six-week intervention was conducted during the section of Intermediate Algebra in the Community College Baltimore County (CCBC)-Essex. To measure the effect of GC on student achievement in Intermediate Algebra class, a pretest/post-test and statistical paired t-test (one-tailed) were conducted. To measure student attitudes regarding the use of GC throughout the intervention, pre/post-surveys and statistical paired t-tests (one-tailed) were conducted. The results of the intervention show that there is a significant gain in student achievement and a gain in student attitude toward GC in Intermediate Algebra class with the use of GC. Appended are: (1) Survey Collaborative; and (2) Attitudes toward graphing calculators (GC) in mathematics learning questionnaire. (Contains 2 tables.).

The Effect of Graphing Calculators and A Three-Core Representation Curriculum on College Students' Learning of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

The Effect of Graphing Calculators and A Three-Core Representation Curriculum on College Students' Learning of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2004
Genre:
ISBN:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of a multi-representational curriculum on studentsâ€TM understanding of and connections among graphical, tabular, and symbolic representations of algebraic concepts. The participants of the study were 113 college students enrolled in developmental college algebra at a southern university. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design in which instructors taught the course from a scripted algebraic perspective while the researcher taught the course from a functional approach simultaneously introducing multiple representations. The effect of a three-core representation curriculum on student success was assessed with a pretests and posttests of nine problems, with three representations; algebraic, graphical, and numerical. Also used were pretests and posttests of ten calculator knowledge questions. The problems were chosen because of their prevalence in most developmental college algebra curricula. The three-core representation curriculum was more successful in increasing student achievement. Students from the three-core representation curriculum scored significantly higher and were significantly more adept in using representational methods other than algebraic to solve the problem. This research showed that a multi-representational curriculum could be effective in expanding studentsâ€TM web of connected knowledge of algebraic and functional concepts.

Student Understanding of Functions and the Use of the Graphing Calculator in a College Algebra Course

Student Understanding of Functions and the Use of the Graphing Calculator in a College Algebra Course
Author: Patrick J. Averbeck
Publisher:
Total Pages: 414
Release: 2000
Genre: Algebra
ISBN:

The purpose of the study was to investigate students' learning of the function concept and the role of the graphing calculator in a College Algebra course. Differences between students with high symbolic manipulation skills. and students with low symbolic manipulation skills were also examined. On the basis of an algebraic skills test administered by the instructor (high/low) and students' academic majors (math & science, business, and liberal arts), 25 students from one College Algebra class were placed into six categories. To gather data on students' understanding of functions, a pretest and posttest were administered. The Function Test consisted of four identification questions given in each of the representations, three questions asking for the definition, an example, and a nonexample of functions, and 15 questions consisting of three problem situations given in the numerical, graphical, and symbolic representations. To gather data on the role of the graphing calculator, daily classroom observations were conducted. To verify students' responses and classroom observations, formal interviews with students and informal interviews with the instructor were conducted. Students' personal definition progressed towards the formal definition of functions. Yet, students had difficulties with the univalence requirement in three areas: (a) order of domain and range, (b) preference for simple algorithms, and (c) the restriction that functions were one-to-one. Compared to students with low symbolic manipulation skills, students with high symbolic manipulation skills were more flexible working between representations of functions. Half of the interviewed students with low symbolic manipulation skills perceived a single function given in numerical, graphical, and symbolic representations as separate entities. The graphing calculator played a role in all phases of the solution process. During the initial phases, students used calculators to develop a symbolic approach. The prime motivation for using graphing calculators during the solution-execution phase was to avoid careless errors. The most common use of graphing calculators was to check answers during the solution-monitoring phase. However, graphing calculators created difficulties for students who accepted graphs at face value. Interpreting the truncated graph shown by the calculator, students determined that exponential functions possessed a bounded domain because they did not explore the graph.

The Relationship Between Graphing Calculator Use and the Development of Classroom Norms in an Exemplay Teacher's College Algebra Course

The Relationship Between Graphing Calculator Use and the Development of Classroom Norms in an Exemplay Teacher's College Algebra Course
Author: Sally Sue Gerren
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

The purpose of this study was to advance knowledge about the relationship between graphing calculator use and classroom norm development. An interpretive case study design incorporating qualitative and quantitative research methods was used to explore the question: What happens when an exemplary teacher uses graphing calculators in a college algebra class? The purposively selected participants were the teacher and eleven students of a Texas community college algebra course. All 29 classes of the 14-week spring 2006 semester were observed in their entirety by the researcher. The theoretical frameworks guiding the study were the affective representation system and the Multiple Representations Model of Learning and Teaching with the use of the Mathematics and Science Classroom Observation System for data collection, analysis, and profiling of classroom lessons. Originally developed for grades K-12, the use of the instrument was extended to college algebra. Triangulation of data sources using constant comparative and content analysis methods were used to support the three major findings: (1) The instructor's proactive orchestration of specialized instruction, support materials, and designed activities contributed to the establishment of graphing calculator use as an essential part of classroom norms and promoted students' independent use of the tool; (2) The dynamic and interactive features of the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator facilitated the delivery of instruction at high cognitive levels during student interactive activities providing access to, exploration of, and use of multiple representations for some mathematical concepts and solutions not easily attainable using traditional methods; and (3) Although the majority of students had never used a graphing calculator before the course, all students used the tool at appropriate times during instructional activities, self-reporting that their use of the calculator was generally beneficial for enhancing their understanding of lessons and supporting class interactions. Additionally, all students independently chose to use the calculator during major assessments and reported knowledgeable use of the tool to facilitate improved test performance. Replication of the study is limited because the norms developed in this case are unique to the teacher and students who negotiated their establishment. Suggestions are given regarding educational policies, reform practices, and research extensions.