A common problem in computer programming use for education in general, not simply as a technical skill, is that children and teachers find themselves constrained by what is possible through limited expertise in computer programming techniques. This is particularly noticeable at the preliterate level, where constructs tend to be limited to…

Can daily access to laptop computers help students become better writers? Are such programs affordable? Evidence from the Inspired Writing program in Littleton Public Schools, Colorado, USA, provides a resounding yes to both questions. The program employs student netbooks, open-source software, cloud computing, and social media to help students in…

Students are more likely to develop a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics when they interact with and discuss their thoughts with others. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) (1989, 2000) has recommended that students be active learners--communicating with one another, conjecturing, exploring, and justifying claims by…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a computer-based video instruction (CBVI) program to teach life skills. Three middle school-aged students with intellectual disabilities were taught how to make a sandwich, use a microwave, and set the table with a CBVI software package. A multiple probe across behaviors design was used to…

A large school district may have a technology department staffed by a chief technology officer who supervises two or more directors of operations, project managers, and technicians. On the other hand, a small district may employ an information technologist who works with technicians, consultants, volunteers with a knack for technology, and…

This paper describes materials designed for classroom projects on stimulus generalization and peak shift. A computer program (originally written in QuickBASIC) is used for data collection and a Microsoft Excel file with macros organizes the raw data on a spreadsheet and creates generalization gradients. The program is designed for use with human…

This paper describes the use of open source video analysis software in the study of the relationship between the velocity of falling objects and time. We discuss an experiment in which a steel sphere falls in a container filled with two immiscible liquids. The motion is similar to that of a skydiver falling through air.

Qualitative research methods require transparency to ensure the "trustworthiness" of the data analysis. The intricate processes of organising, coding and analysing the data are often rendered invisible in the presentation of the research findings, which requires a "leap of faith" for the reader. Computer assisted data analysis software can be used…

In this note we show the existence of a surprising analogy between quadrilaterals and tetrahedra, determining some properties that hold for both families of figures. This analogy suggests some new properties of quadrilaterals. (Contains 11 figures,)

The television show Deal or No Deal and an Excel spreadsheet help students see how understanding probability and mean--and the concept of expected value (EV)--can lead to game show wins.

The study reported in this article deals with the observed actions of Turkish pre-service mathematics teachers in dynamic geometry environment (DGE) as they were learning Khayyam's method for solving cubic equations formed as x[superscript 3] + ax = b. Having learned the method, modelled it in DGE and verified the correctness of the solution,…

This paper analyses the role of Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) in a model of learning based on competences. The proposal is an e-learning model Linear Algebra course for Engineering, which includes the use of a CAS (Maxima) and focuses on problem solving. A reference model has been taken from the Spanish Open University. The proper use of CAS is…

This article deals with gender phenomena in the context of digital literacy. Studies show that computer use, computer skills, and computer-related self-concepts are subject to gender differences. These differences may affect classroom interactions as well as learning processes and have therefore to be considered carefully by teachers who apply…

Blackboard has become the Microsoft of higher-education technology, say many campus-technology officials, and they do not mean the comparison as a compliment. To them the company is not only big, but also pushy, and many of them love to hate it. This article reports that a growing number of colleges are switching to Moodle, a free, open-source…

The problem in the present quasi-experimental research design was the poor English communication skills of college students enrolled in first-year English as a second language (ESL) courses in Puerto Rico. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare learning outcomes between a first-year English as a second class taught with the…