The Math Skills Program of the New York City Public Schools is designed to provide remediation in mathematics for students who have mathematics scores that are two or more years below grade level, or who have failed the Mathematics Regents Competency Test. During the 1985-86 school year, 58,192 students from 113 high schools participated in the…

Mathematical problem-solving processes used by 27 eighth graders who had studied programming were compared to those of 27 who had not. Programmers used more systematic approaches and reviewed solutions more often than nonprogrammers but did not make more use of equations or do more planning. (PK)

The question of whether to teach computer programming to elementary and secondary students has been widely debated. This study examines the relationship between computer programming experience, mathematics experience, and general variable skill. The sample consisted of 46 students (aged 9 to 17) at a summer computer camp. The programming level was…

Exploratory study aimed to investigate elements of geometrical concepts that children learn through Logo programing. A test designed to assess three components of length and angle was administered to 84 children who had learned Logo for one year and 92 who had not. Data indicated a positive effect of Logo work on some items, but not all.…

Measured girls' (N=43) attitudes toward mathematics and general ability before and after a Logo learning experience. Results suggest that the Logo experience had a positive effect on general ability and on expressed interest in learning about mathematics. (JN)

Forty-eight mathematicians in industry, business, and government replied to a questionnaire on the relative merits of the traditional undergraduate curriculum, advanced topics in pure mathematics, computer programing, additional computer science, and specialized or applied topics. They favored programing and applied mathematics, along with a…

Use of a computer programming language in problem-solving activities provides an opportunity to examine how young children use a restricted set of language primitives. The generation, and execution of computer instructions was used as a verification stage in the problem-solution process. The metric is intended to provide a descriptive…

Secondary teachers in a workshop on overcoming computer and math anxiety and students in a programming course were given measures of anxiety and achievement. Low mathematical ability and coursework were related to math and computer anxiety and negative attitudes. Attitudes improved for the teachers but not the students. (MNS)

Reports on a study designed to further investigate whether structured Logo learning experiences would have a positive influence on student understanding of selected basic geometry concepts. Results indicated more than just one year of Logo instruction would be needed to improve students understanding of simple angle and distance concepts. (TW)

Investigated the effect of the choice of a model's medium (algebraic expression or computer program) on the performance of students. Student programers did not transfer the qualities of a computer program approach to their algebraic models. Provides items for five tests. (YP)

Examines factors related to computer anxiety measured by the Computer Anxiety Index (CAIN). Achievement in two programing courses was inversely related to computer anxiety. Students who had a home computer and had computer experience before high school had lower computer anxiety than those who had not. Lists 14 references. (YP)

Provided is an overview and analysis of recent progress in applying electronic information technology to creation of new environments for intellectual work in mathematics. Describes the impact of numerical computation, graphic computation, symbolic computation, multiple representation of information, programing and information, and artificial…

Investigated was the effect of programing-augmented mathematics classes on the math achievement, problem solving abilities, and attitudes of students with different cognitive styles. Reports BASIC programing groups demonstrated higher mathematics achievement than the LOGO group, and field independent students performed better and had more positive…

Presented are ideas for teaching mathematics with a microcomputer. Ideas include using Apple II Logo to help select students for activities (Wheel of Fortune) and activities to explore how the programming operates. (RH)

The Bock and Aitkin Marginal Maximum Likelihood/EM (MML/EM) approach to item parameter estimation is an alternative to the classical joint maximum likelihood procedure of item response theory. This paper provides the essential mathematical details of a MML/EM solution and shows its use in obtaining consistent item parameter estimates. (TJH)