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This study uses the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study to investigate the relationships among students' and teachers' computer use, and eighth-grade students' mathematical reasoning in three high-achieving nations: Finland, Chinese Taipei, and Singapore. The study found a significant negative relationship in all three countries between out-of-school computer usage of eighth-grade students and their mathematics reasoning scores. The study points to the fact that computer use out of school does not improve students' development of mathematics reasoning across the three contexts. Additionally, the more teachers had students use computer technology for higher-order thinking skills, such as for processing and analyzing data, the higher their mathematics reasoning scores in Finland, but the lower the students' reasoning scores in Singapore. The contrasting relationships in Singapore and Finland indicate the need to further study the nature of the activities related to computer use for higher order learning skills in the two countries. Implications for policy and research are further elaborated.

Students should begin to engage in problem-solving and higher order thinking skills in mathematics in the early years of school in preparation for 21st-century technology and problem-solving competencies.Using the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ), this study examines the distribution of significant teacher quality factors related to sixth-grade students' mathematics competencies across the regions of Kenya and Zimbabwe. The mathematics competencies range from Pre-numeracy to Abstract Problem Solving level. First, we use a multi-level regression model to analyze the relationships between teacher quality and students' mathematics competencies to find out which teacher quality variables are important for the improvement in students' mathema tics competencies in the participating countries. We then illustrate the distributions of the teacher quality factors within the regions in Kenya and Zimbabwe. From the multilevel model analysis, the teacher quality factors related to students' increase in mathematics competencies were teaching experience, mathematics competencies, and teachers' academic qualifications. We observe that students taught by permanently employed teachers had lower math competencies and that the days spent by the teachers in professional development influence students' mathematics competencies negatively. The distributions of these teacher quality factors that matter in sub-Sahara Africa are concentrated in the capital cities and particular regions in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

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Teachers' knowledge for teaching mathematics in secondary school is incomplete without the inclusion of knowledge of technology integration in teaching. Developing technology pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) of pre-service teachers is essential in teacher preparation programs because PSTs gain knowledge of how to use technology in mathematics teaching before beginning their practice. This study investigates how preservice mathematics teachers' TPACK emerges during the secondary mathematics methods and field-based courses. The instructors supported the growth of PSTs' knowledge for teaching secondary mathematics and integrating technology in the method courses. The evidence of TPACK knowledge included data from lesson plans and lesson reflections, technology presentations, and semi-structured exit interviews through content analysis. Recommendations for policy and practice are elaborated.