Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics

This study investigates the effect of usage of an open-source software, WxMaxima, on students’ achievement in calculus scores and their motivation towards learning mathematics using the software. The study involved of 62 secondary school students (32 in the treatment group, 30 in the control group)...

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Main Authors: Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi, Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani, Abu Bakar, Kamariah, Wong, Su Luan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute for Mathematical Research, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2014
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/1/38949.pdf
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author Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani
Abu Bakar, Kamariah
Wong, Su Luan
author_facet Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani
Abu Bakar, Kamariah
Wong, Su Luan
author_sort Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates the effect of usage of an open-source software, WxMaxima, on students’ achievement in calculus scores and their motivation towards learning mathematics using the software. The study involved of 62 secondary school students (32 in the treatment group, 30 in the control group) in a Malaysian school. ANCOVA analysis showed that that the group with access to WxMaxima achieved significantly better test scores as compared with the group which followed the traditional teaching method. Students in the treatment group were also better motivated towards learning mathematics; they were more attentive and showed more confidence in learning calculus. However, there was no significant difference in terms of ‘satisfaction’ in learning mathematics between the two groups. The results from this study suggest that the integration of computer technology in the teaching and learning of calculus and of mathematics in general was generally beneficial.
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spelling upm-389492015-09-04T13:44:29Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/ Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani Abu Bakar, Kamariah Wong, Su Luan This study investigates the effect of usage of an open-source software, WxMaxima, on students’ achievement in calculus scores and their motivation towards learning mathematics using the software. The study involved of 62 secondary school students (32 in the treatment group, 30 in the control group) in a Malaysian school. ANCOVA analysis showed that that the group with access to WxMaxima achieved significantly better test scores as compared with the group which followed the traditional teaching method. Students in the treatment group were also better motivated towards learning mathematics; they were more attentive and showed more confidence in learning calculus. However, there was no significant difference in terms of ‘satisfaction’ in learning mathematics between the two groups. The results from this study suggest that the integration of computer technology in the teaching and learning of calculus and of mathematics in general was generally beneficial. Institute for Mathematical Research, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2014-07 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/1/38949.pdf Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi and Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani and Abu Bakar, Kamariah and Wong, Su Luan (2014) Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics. Malaysian Journal of Mathematical Sciences, 8 (2). pp. 311-323. ISSN 1823-8343; ESSN: 2289-750X http://einspem.upm.edu.my/journal/fullpaper/vol8no2/10.%20AHmad%20Fauzi%20latest.pdf
spellingShingle Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani
Abu Bakar, Kamariah
Wong, Su Luan
Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
title Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
title_full Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
title_fullStr Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
title_full_unstemmed Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
title_short Adoption of Wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
title_sort adoption of wxmaxima software in the classroom: effect on students' motivation and learning of mathematics
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/38949/1/38949.pdf