Digital Native Students

Author(s):  
Su-Ting Yong

The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences among digital native students in mathematics learning and gaming. A quantitative dominant mixed methods approach was employed in which quantitative surveys [174 students] and qualitative interviews [eight students, eight parents and six teachers] were administered concurrently. Data collected has revealed that students are characterized as digital natives and do not portray a significant gender gap in technology usage. Nevertheless, males and females tend to demonstrate their digital native characteristics differently. Males are more likely to play computer games and acknowledge the many benefits of gaming. Moreover, boys have better spatial skills and they are more confident in mathematics. While females still lag behind males in spatial abilities and mathematics confidence in the past, digital native females are not helping to close the gender gap. Essentially, girls could play more computer games to strengthen their spatial abilities.

Author(s):  
Diarmaid Lane ◽  
Sheryl Sorby

AbstractIn recent years, there has been a surge in research in spatial thinking across the international community. We now know that spatial skills are malleable and that they are linked to success across multiple disciplines, most notably Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). While spatial skills have been examined by cognitive scientists in laboratory environments for decades, current research is examining how these skills can be developed in field-based environments. In this paper, we present findings from a study within a Technology Teacher preparation programme where we examined first-year students’ spatial skills on entry to university. We explain why it was necessary to embed a spatial skills intervention into Year 1 of the programme and we describe the impact that this had on students’ spatial scores and on academic performance. The findings from our study highlight a consistent gender gap in spatial scores at the start of the first-year with female students entering the Technology Teacher preparation programme at a lower base level than male students. We describe how we integrated spatial development activities into an existing course and how an improvement in spatial scores and overall course performance was observed. The paper concludes by discussing the long-term sustainability of integrating spatial interventions within teacher preparation programmes while also highlighting the importance of future research to examine spatial skills as a fundamental component of technological capability.


Author(s):  
Norena Martin-Dorta ◽  
Isabel Sanchez-Berriel ◽  
Jose Luis Saorin ◽  
Manuel Contero

Spatial abilities are critical skills in scientific and technical fields. In recent studies, the role of computer games, particularly those with 3-D simulations, have been examined for their impact on the development of spatial skills. The work presented in this chapter describes the design and user evaluation of a 3D construction mobile game called iCube. A trial version was brought out and evaluated by twenty-two students. Users pointed out that the game is useful for improvement of spatial ability and is fun. However, some difficulties arose with use of the tactile screen, as fingerprints caused problems while interacting with the game’s 3D environment. The results revealed that it is necessary to have this item in mind during the game’s design, where screen action is continuous.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay J McCunn ◽  
Emily Cilli-Turner

Undergraduate calculus is a foundational mathematics sequence that previews the sophistication students will need to succeed in higher-level courses. However, students often struggle with concepts in calculus because they are more abstract and visual than those in other foundational mathematics courses. Additionally, women continue to be underrepresented in the STEM fields. This study builds on previous work indicating a malleability in spatial ability by testing whether improvement occurs in students’ spatial and mathematics ability after implementing spatial training in calculus courses. The researchers also measured associations between spatial training and self-reported cognitive style. While spatial training did not significantly improve calculus and spatial skills, the researchers measured impacts on the psychological correlate of cognitive learning style. This is important as non-spatial cognitive preferences can result in students not recognizing the dynamic information encapsulated in graphical images, which is a large component of calculus. These results may have practical implications for teaching calculus at the undergraduate level and may, with further research, help to narrow the gender gap in the STEM fields.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-36
Author(s):  
Mónika Pálinkás-Molnár ◽  
László Bernáth

Dance and mathematics are seemingly very distant concepts at first glance. In the theoretical parts of our study we show how strongly mathematics and spatial abilities are interrelated, including the correlation between dance and spatial abilities as well. Consequently a hypothesis derives that dance develops spatial abilities, through which it develops mathematical skills at the same time. Our research focused on first year primary school students. During the one month course we applied creative children dance and tasks of movement from drama pedagogy. Children’s abilities were measured pre- and after the course classes with a test of both mathematical and spatial skills. According to this research, we could show some improvement in mathematical skills as a result of the development, but there is no significant improvement in spatial skills. We attempted to find out about the reasons of the results we found.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Moustafa ◽  
Richard Tindle ◽  
Zaheda Ansari ◽  
Margery J. Doyle ◽  
Doaa H. Hewedi ◽  
...  

AbstractGiven that achievement in learning mathematics at school correlates with work and social achievements, it is important to understand the cognitive processes underlying abilities to learn mathematics efficiently as well as reasons underlying the occurrence of mathematics anxiety (i.e. feelings of tension and fear upon facing mathematical problems or numbers) among certain individuals. Over the last two decades, many studies have shown that learning mathematical and numerical concepts relies on many cognitive processes, including working memory, spatial skills, and linguistic abilities. In this review, we discuss the relationship between mathematical learning and cognitive processes as well as the neural substrates underlying successful mathematical learning and problem solving. More importantly, we also discuss the relationship between these cognitive processes, mathematics anxiety, and mathematics learning disabilities (dyscalculia). Our review shows that mathematical cognition relies on a complex brain network, and dysfunction to different segments of this network leads to varying manifestations of mathematical learning disabilities.


Author(s):  
Rita Nagy-Kondor ◽  
Saeed Esmailnia

AbstractSpatial ability contributes to performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Spatial skills and creativity are required for engineering studies. Low spatial abilities can lead to the dropout of students’ university studies. In this study the Spatial Ability Extra Tasks (SAET) was developed to evaluate engineering students’ complex spatial abilities. A total of 93 first-year engineering students from University of Debrecen Faculty of Engineering and Sharif University of Technology in Tehran participated, with regard to final mathematical exam and their gender, participated in the study. SAET measures parts of spatial abilities: mental cutting and mental rotation and creativity. Analysis of the findings suggested that SAET is valid and reliable. The separate tests results have been statistically evaluated and conclusions were formulated. We used Structural Equation Modeling analysis. We separate two types of tasks by SAET which are Polyhedron part and Curved Surface part. According to obtained data, accomplished the results: students of University of Debrecen are more successful at Curved Surfaces. In addition students of Sharif University are more successful at Polyhedrons. The square cross section was found by most student in both countries in Polyhedrons. It is remarkable that first-year engineering students of Tehran are more successful at Polyhedrons by pentagon, hexagon and parallelogram solution; and students of Debrecen are more successful by square and rectangle solution. Students of Debrecen are more successful at Curved Surfaces to find circle solution of cylinder, cone and sphere; students of Tehran are more successful by finding parabola solution of cone.


Author(s):  
Atma Murni ◽  
Rini Dian Anggraini ◽  
Sakur

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh penerapan Strategi Pemecahan Masalah dalam pembelajaran kooperatif pendekatan struktural Think Pair Share (TPS) terhadap hasil belajar matematika siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 14 Pekanbaru. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain penelitian pra eksperimental menggunakan desain penelitian perbandingan kelompok statis. Instrumen pengumpulan data meliputi tes keterampilan mahematika awal dan tes hasil belajar matematika. Data dianalisis menggunakan uji t. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh strategi pemecahan masalah dalam pembelajaran kooperatif pendekatan struktural Think Pair Share (TPS) terhadap hasil belajar matematika siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 14 Pekanbaru.   The aim of this study was to know the influence of Problem Solving Strategy implementation in cooperative learning of structural approach Think Pair Share (TPS) to mathematics learning outcome of VIII class students of SMP Negeri 14 Pekanbaru. This study use pre experimental research design using The static group comparison research design. The instruments of  data collection include early mahematics skills test and mathematics learning outcome test. Data were analyzed using t test. The result of this study showed that there is influence of problem solving strategy in cooperative learning of structural approach Think Pair Share (TPS)  to mathematics learning outcome  of  VIII class students of SMP Negeri 14 Pekanbaru


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-72
Author(s):  
Yetri Ningsih

This research conducted caused by students' score at class X MIPA 4 very low in the vector material. The avarage of score of the daily test obtained by students was 60,5 and it had not yet reached mastery learning. One of the efforts to improve learning outcomes was to use powerpoint as a learning media. The purpose of this study was to determine the increase in activity and mathematics learning outcomes on vector material in learning using PowerPoint.This research design used the classroom action research. The research subjects were 36 students of class X MIPA 4 SMA Negeri 1 Lubuklinggau in the 2019/2020 academic year. Data collected by using tests and observations.The test used to obtain student learning outcomes in each cycle, while observation used to determine the learning process in each cycle. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the average score of student learning outcomes in the first cycle was 62.2 and 77.3 in the second cycle. The percentage of student learning completeness in the first cycle was 52.8%, in the second cycle it was 80.6%. The percentage of improvement in student learning outcomes after being given action was 15.29%. So it can be concluded that learning mathematics by using powerpoint media can improve student learning outcomes in class X MIPA 4 SMA Negeri 1 Lubuklinggau in the 2019/2020 academic year.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document