Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Paul Borthwick
Committee Member
Verdi N. Avila
Keywords
attitude measurement, calculators, competitions, computer-aided instruction, computer instructional games, computers, eighth grade, electronic mail, manipulatives, mathematics achievement, mathematics activities, mathematics anxiety, mathematics education, motivation, parent participation, student attitudes, student-teacher interaction, surveys, telecommunications
Abstract
In order to improve attitudes towards mathematics of a target group consisting of a heterogeneous class of eighth grade students, the writer developed and implemented a mathematics program using available telecommunications technology.
Students were introduced to telecommunications theory to prepare them for the project. A Modem, Practical Peripheral 2400 MNP, and Microsoft Works 2.0 for DOS was used to initiate dialogue between the target group of eighth graders in the writer's school and another eighth grade class of students at a junior high school 55 miles away. In order to motivate students in learning mathematics, each class exchanged autobiographies and a math quiz created by the students of each class, via e-mail.
Analysis of the data revealed that the participants' attitude towards learning mathematics improved. Consequently, individual mathematics competency increased.