In the context of rapid technological changes and modernization of society, the issue of ensuring adequacy of content in secondary education based on the use of advanced information technologies (ICT) is being updated. The necessity of an appropriate level of primary intellectual activity development in a person in terms of the current trends in…

This article is written to share teaching ideas about using commonly available computer applications--a spreadsheet, "The Geometer's Sketchpad", and "Wolfram Alpha"--to explore three classic and historically significant problems from the probability theory. These ideas stem from the authors' work with prospective economists,…

Discrete Mathematics instructors and students have long been struggling with various labelling and scanning algorithms for solving many important problems. This paper shows how to solve a wide variety of Discrete Mathematics and OR problems using assignment matrices and linear programming, specifically using Excel Solvers although the same…

This article was motivated by the authors' work on a project with a group of 2nd-grade students in a computer lab of a rural school in upstate New York. From this project, one goal of which was to provide a capstone experience for a teacher candidate in teaching application-oriented mathematics with technology, the ideas about parallel structures…

Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) proposes a theoretical framework that incorporates four central components: an overarching conception of what it means to teach with technology, knowledge of students' thinking and understandings of specific topics with technologies, knowledge of curricular materials that incorporate…

Simulation is an important learning tool that allows students to grasp probability concepts, especially when the actual scenario does not need to be replicated entirely. In the cases of tossing coins and rolling dice, gathering the data before analyzing them can be laborious and might be a waste of precious class time--time that might be better…

In this article, the author explores how to use "PowerPoint" to support the mathematics itself, not just to "present" but actually to "enhance" learning. For the purposes of this article, she has explored three tools: colour, animation and hyperlinks. (Contains 1 note.)

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of instruction using WebQuest activities with the influence of an instruction using spreadsheet activities on the motivation of pre-service elementary school teachers in mathematics teaching course. There were a total of 70 pre-service elementary school teachers involved in this study. Thirty…

This paper explores the use of spreadsheets to develop an exploratory environment where mathematics students can develop their own understanding of the parameters of commonly encountered families of functions: linear, logarithmic, exponential and power. The key to this understanding involves opening up the definition of rate of change from the…

This study is part of a large research and development project aimed at observing, describing and analyzing the learning processes of two seventh grade classes during a yearlong beginning algebra course in a computer intensive environment (CIE). The environment includes carefully designed algebra learning materials with a functional approach, and…

This paper was prepared in response to the Conference Board of Mathematical Sciences recommendations for the preparation of secondary teachers. It shows how using trigonometry as a conceptual tool in spreadsheet-based applications enables one to develop mathematical understanding in the context of constructing geometric representations of unit…

Differing perspectives have been offered about student use of recursive and explicit rules. These include: (a) promoting the use of explicit rules over the use of recursive rules, and (b) encouraging student use of both recursive and explicit rules. This study sought to explore students' use of recursive and explicit rules by examining the…

Investigates potential uses for spreadsheets that generate graphical representations, and explores complex sheets that can be used purely as demonstrations, which require far less time and expertise than writing equivalent computer programs. Includes several spreadsheet examples using Microsoft Excel. (JJK)

Demonstrates how spreadsheets can be used to implement linear system solving algorithms in college mathematics classes. Lotus 1-2-3 is described, a linear system of equations is illustrated using spreadsheets, and the interplay between applications, computations, and theory is discussed. (four references) (LRW)

Presents ideas for using a spreadsheet to reinforce teaching of enumerative combinatories in the secondary mathematics classroom. (PR)