Many studies have documented the challenges facing teachers who use digital technologies in their classrooms. This is especially true for digital technologies that offer new models or representations of school mathematics concepts. In this article, we report on a collaboration between teachers and researchers around the use of a novel touchscreen…

The computer is used to explore some worthwhile mathematics in the secondary school classroom. The problems discussed center around Gauss' Existence Theorem for constructible regular polygons. (FL)

It is more important for children to learn concepts in mathematics than to be able to perform automatic computational functions. By permitting manipulation of the relationships among visible objects, computer graphics can make it easier for students to grasp concepts and can serve as an essential ingredient in effective computer-assisted…

An investigation of student proof behavior in a complex computer-assisted instruction (CAI) setting is presented. Using 125 logic derivation problems, the responses of 23 students, enrolled in the Stanford Logic-Instructional System, were evaluated to determine the amount of variation occurring in the structure of their proofs. By assigning the…

The authors develop the idea of Niven numbers and discuss their potential usefulness in the classroom. A computer program to generate Niven numbers is provided. (MK)

Describes a four-phase method of helping students who are mathematically unsophisticated and have difficulty relating their common sense, English-language understanding of a system to an abstract, mathematical description. The approach uses interactive simulation models. (Author/IRT)

Presents an algorithm to estimate pi by approximating a unit circle with a sequence of inscribed regular polygons. Demonstrates the application of the algorithm with a hand-held calculator and an Apple computer. Provides a program to calculate pi in Pascal programing language. (12 references) (MDH)

Computer graphing makes it easier for students and teachers to create and manipulate graphs. Scale issues are nearly unavoidable in the computer context. In interviews and protocol analysis with six students from grade 8, and 12 students from grades 11 and 12, it became apparent that some aspects of scale are clearly understood very early while…

Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) are computer systems for the exact solution of problems in symbolic form. The newspaper is designed to serve as a conduit for information and ideas on the use of CAS in education, especially in lower division college and university courses. Articles included are about CAS programs in several colleges, experiences…

The author argues the necessity of ensuring that mathematics is perceived by children as being useful. An example is provided which is intended to give children experiences which might help them develop a rationale for learning. It involves an item of computer software which simulates car racing. (PK)

Argues that computer instantiations of abstract concepts could assist mathematics education by providing concrete experiences and by inducing the mental process of construction that Piaget called reflexive abstraction. College students with computer experiences scored higher than those taught with traditional methods on a test of functions and…

Discusses the use of the computer to encourage a versatile approach to learning involving both symbolic/logical and visual/holistic types of mental activity. Provides experimental data showing the effect of an enhanced Socratic mode of teaching. (YP)