Students' Perceptions of Learning Environment and Attitudes Toward Mathematics in 1:1 and 2:1 Computing

• In Event: 15.043 - Approaches to Accessing Learning Environments

Abstract

We compared the effectiveness of a 1:1 learning environment (all students with their own computer) with a 2:1 environment (two students sharing each computer) in terms of students’ learning environment perceptions and attitudes towards mathematics. A sample of 124 grade 4 and 5 students from New York state responded to the What Is Happening In this Class? (WIHIC) and three attitude scales from the Test of Mathematics-Related Attitudes (TOMRA before instruction in December and after instruction in June. Although pretest scores were higher for the 1:1 environment, these pretest differences diminished or disappeared by the time of posttesting. When pretest scores were controlled using ANCOVA, students perceived significantly more Involvement and Investigation in the 2:1 environment.

Authors

• David F. Treagust, Curtin University

• Gerard Beleckas, Curtin University

• Barry J. Fraser, Curtin University