The use of Information and Communication Technologies in the first grade of primary school for teaching rectangles based in Realistic Mathematics Education

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the question: “Can Information and Communications Technology (ICT) helps to improve primary school students' geometry achievements for rectangles?” The applied educational software consisted of a story and several activities with and without the use of computers which were designed following the background of Realistic Mathematics Education for geometry concepts; referred to as the `Primary Shape Model' (PSM). In addition, we use a mathematical test referred to as the `Primary Shape Test' (PST) to explore the use of ICT in the primary classroom for teaching basic geometrical concepts. It is a task orientated test which attends to measure the level of geometry competence developed for students of the first grade. The study dealt with students in the first grade of primary school of Athens and Crete, who were divided into two teams (experimental and control). The experimental group consisted of 113 students, who were taught of rectangles by the support of computers. There were 121 students in the control group, which received only the traditional science instruction for rectangles. Students in both groups were pre-tested and post-tested for their geometry performance for rectangles. The results of the study indicated that teaching and learning through ICT is an interactive process for children at primary school level and has a positive effect for geometry education of rectangles.