Date of Award

8-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Graduate Education

Abstract

This study examines the effects of Geometer’s Sketchpad on student achievement and attitudes in algebra classrooms. It has a quasi-experimental design. The sample included 93 students enrolled in Advanced Algebra courses at Calvin Christian High School in Grandville, MI. Four classes participated in a five-day unit that explored graphs of equalities and inequalities. Two classes used traditional graphing calculators and two classes used Geometer’s Sketchpad. One class of each type took a pretest to measure prior knowledge. All classes took a posttest and attitude survey at the end of the study. A t-test was used to compare class averages. There were no significant differences when looking at posttest and attitude survey results. There were significant differences when looking at difference scores from the pretest and posttest. This is an important result as it has implications on the use of technology in the mathematics classroom and in the formation of future studies like this one.

Comments

Action Research Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Education

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