This article presents the results of a comparative study regarding the impact and contribution of two instructional approaches to formal and informal mathematical reasoning with two groups of Spanish students, aged four and five. Data indicated that for both age groups, children under the ABN method [Open Algorithm Based on Numbers (ABN)] (n = 147) achieved better results than the group under the CBC approach (Closed Algorithms Based on Ciphers) (n = 82), which is the widespread approach in Spanish schools to teach formal and informal mathematical reasoning. Furthermore, the comparative analyses showed that the effect is higher in the group of students who received more instruction on skills considered domain-specific predictors of later arithmetic performance. Statistically significant differences were found in 9 of the 10 dimensions evaluated by TEMA-3 (p < 0.01), as well as on estimation tasks in the number-line for the 5-year-old-group. However, the 4-year-old group only presented significant results in calculation and concepts tasks about informal mathematical reasoning. We discuss that these differences arise by differential exposure to specific number-sense tasks, since the groups proved to be equivalent in terms of receptive vocabulary, processing speed, and working memory. The educational consequences of these results were also analyzed.

Taking notes is a common strategy among higher education students, and has been found to affect their academic performance. Nowadays, however, the use of computers is replacing the traditional pencil-and-paper methodology. The present study aims to identify the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of computer (typing) and pencil-and-paper (handwriting) for taking notes by college students. A total of 251 social and health science students participated in the study. Two experimental conditions were chosen: taking notes by hand (n=211), and taking notes by computer (n=40). Those that used computer-written notes performed better on tasks based on reproducing the alphabet, writing sentences, and recognizing words (p<.05). However, those using handwritten notes performed better on free recall tasks (p<.05). Differences between the two conditions were statistically significant rejecting the hypothesis of equality between groups (X2=60.98; p<.0001). In addition, the discriminant analysis confirmed that 77.3% of students were correctly classified by the experimental conditions. Although the computer allowed for greater velocity when taking notes, handwriting enhanced students’ grades when performing memory tasks. La toma de apuntes es una estrategia generalizada del alumnado de Educación Superior y se ha constatado su influencia en el rendimiento académico. El uso del ordenador está desplazando al método tradicional de lápiz y papel. El presente estudio pretende arrojar luz sobre las ventajas y los inconvenientes derivados del uso de uno u otro método en la toma de apuntes en las aulas universitarias. Un total de 251 estudiantes universitarios de ciencias sociales y ciencias de la salud participaron en el estudio. Se plantearon dos condiciones experimentales: toma de notas de forma manual (n=211) y de manera electrónica (n=40). Se hallaron diferencias a favor del grupo que usó el ordenador en las tareas basadas en completar el abecedario, escribir frases y reconocer palabras anotadas previamente (p<.05). Sin embargo, en la tarea de recuerdo libre los resultados reflejaron un mejor desempeño del grupo que tomó notas manualmente (p<.05). Se rechazó la hipótesis de igualdad entre los grupos (X2=60,98; p<.0001). Además, el análisis discriminante confirmó que el 77,3% de los alumnos fueron clasificados correctamente según su condición experimental. El uso del ordenador resultó muy útil cuando se trataba de anotar datos con rapidez; sin embargo, en las tareas de recuerdo los alumnos de escritura manual obtuvieron mejores puntuaciones que los de escritura electrónica.

This study tested a structural model of cognitive-emotional explanatory variables to explain performance in mathematics. The predictor variables assessed were related to students’ level of development of early mathematical competencies (EMCs), specifically, relational and numerical competencies, predisposition toward mathematics, and the level of logical intelligence in a population of primary school Chilean students (n = 634). This longitudinal study also included the academic performance of the students during a period of 4 years as a variable. The sampled students were initially assessed by means of an Early Numeracy Test, and, subsequently, they were administered a Likert-type scale to measure their predisposition toward mathematics (EPMAT) and a basic test of logical intelligence. The results of these tests were used to analyse the interaction of all the aforementioned variables by means of a structural equations model. This combined interaction model was able to predict 64.3% of the variability of observed performance. Preschool students’ performance in EMCs was a strong predictor for achievement in mathematics for students between 8 and 11 years of age. Therefore, this paper highlights the importance of EMCs and the modulating role of predisposition toward mathematics. Also, this paper discusses the educational role of these findings, as well as possible ways to improve negative predispositions toward mathematical tasks in the school domain.

The main goal of this study was to analyse, using structural equation modeling, the contribution of predictors of both domain-general (working memory, processing speed and receptive vocabulary) and domain-specific (estimation and magnitude comparison) processes to informal mathematical performance (numbering, comparison, calculation and understanding of concepts) in preschoolers. A total of 158 preschool students (ages ranging from 52 to 64 months) participated in the investigation. Students were assessed with informal tasks measuring mathematical thinking, numerical estimation, symbolic and non-symbolic comparison-making, coding, receptive vocabulary, and backward digit span. Results showed that a structural equation model for multiple indicators and several factors could explain informal mathematical thinking capacity in young children. The model reduced specific-domain factor effects such as magnitude comparison. In conclusion, the effect of working memory was found to be less than the straight impact of the general-domain predictors considered in the study.

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Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have an increasing influence on the way we interact, learn, and live. The increase in teaching and learning methodologies that are mediated by ICT in the field of education and in the domestic settings encourages the design of new effective technological tools, supported by scientific research and development to improve student learning. The challenge psychology is facing in the education field is to promote those technologies and make them available to the education community. Technologies also would produce attractive items for users and realistic commercial issues for businesses. This also allows an effective transfer for scientific work, providing visibility to Research and Development. In this context, the main aim of the article is to describe the process to get an agreement between Babyradio (a children’s entertainment company: https://babyradio.es/) and our research team, starting a collaborative work between two groups of people (Babyradio’s technical designer and Psychologist-Engineers software designer), in order to create several educative applications (APPs) in the field of early mathematics cognition. The institutional framework of the relationship of the R&D project and a children’s entertainment company is described. The article also focuses on experience in Psychology, Technological Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. In considering the efficiency of the agreement, we present different APPs designed for tablets and smartphone devices, adapted to the different operating systems (IOS, Android, Windows). APPs are designed to instill the cognitive fundamentals associated with early math learning for students aged 4 to 7 years. The study developed after this babyradio-university enterprise agreement contributes to the development of mathematics skills in children, aged 4–7 years, so that they can successfully meet the mathematics school requirements; it also contributes to encouraging a more positive attitude toward mathematics. This study also suggests how the education system and software and educational content developers’ companies would manage verified instructional APPs, with a more realistic commercial perspective.

ResumenLas habilidades numéricas pueden predecirse a través de la presencia de determinados procesos cognitivos superiores en edades tempranas. Para ello, se realizó a 208 participantes de Educación Infantil una valoración cognitiva paralela a la evaluación matemática, con el fin de constatar el posible papel predictor de los procesos cognitivos en el desempeño matemático. Los resultados del análisis de regresión lineal múltiple mostraron que las habilidades numéricas pudieron ser explicadas parcialmente por las siguientes variables cognitivas introducidas en el modelo: la medida de la alfabetización emergente, inteligencia, memoria de trabajo y a corto plazo verbal, y una de las dos medidas de inhibición empleadas.Palabras clave: Cognición matemática, matemática temprana, educación infantil. AbstractEarly numeracy skills can be predicted by several cognitive processes at early ages. Therefore, both a cognitive assessment and early math evaluation was carried out, with 208 Kindergarten participants, in order to explain the potential predictive role of higher cognitive processes in early numeracy skills. Results of stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that the variance in the early numeracy skills scores could be partially explained by the following cognitive variables introduced in the explanatory model: emergent literacy, intelligence, working memory, verbal short term memory, and one of two measurements used in the study of inhibitory processes.

En este estudio se trató de detectar el alumnado en riesgo de presentar dificultades de aprendizaje de las matemáticas, en los niveles iniciales de la escolarización obligatoria, satisfaciendo la necesidad de llevar a cabo una evaluación completa y exhaustiva, determinando qué aspectos de la evaluación del rendimiento matemático correlacionan con la medida de la inteligencia. Asimismo, se analizaron las diferencias de género en matemática temprana, revelando la posible influencia del género en las diferencias de los resultados matemáticos. Se evaluó a un total de 44 alumnos y alumnas pertenecientes a segundo curso de Educación Infantil (media de edad = 53.75 meses) mediante tres pruebas diferentes: Test de Evaluación Matemática Temprana (TEMT), Test para el Diagnóstico de las Competencias Básicas en Matemáticas (TEDI-MATH) y el Test de Matrices Progresivas de Raven. Los resultados mostraron que los alumnos con mayor puntuación en la escala de Raven obtuvieron mejores resultados en las pruebas matemáticas. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre género e inteligencia, ni entre género y rendimiento matemático.