Comparing Tablets and PCs in teaching Mathematics: An attempt to improve Mathematics Competence in Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Summary. The present study investigates and compares the influence of using computers and tablets in the development of mathematical competence in early childhood education. To implement the survey we conducted a 14-week intervention, which included one experimental and one control group. Children in both groups were taught mathematics as per the Greek curriculum for early childhood education, using either the same educational software which, depending on the group, running on computers or on tablets. In order to evaluate the mathematical performance of children we used the Test of Early Mathematics Ability (TEMA-3). The sample consisted of 256 children in Greece. The results showed that teaching with tablets compared to teaching with computers contributed significantly to the development of children's mathematical ability. Moreover, factors such as gender and age did not seem to differentiate the development of mathematical competence of children.

Evaluating Moodle use via Smart Mobile Phones. A case study in a Greek University

“…The days of mimeograph machines and chalkboards has long past [27]. Information and communication technology (ICT) is increasingly becoming a bigger and more important part of students' everyday life [22,30,33,35,36]. Students can increase their learning skills using information technology.…”

“…With the rapidly increasing popularity of the Internet in recent years, the delivery of learning programs has gradually shifted from local desktop to online-based applications [5]. Consequently, the role of e-learning has transformed completely as recent advances in Information Technology (IT) and the advent of Web 2.0 technologies enabled the creation of learning content that is no longer based on textbooks and learning guides [32,33,34,35]. E-learning is electronic learning, meaning that it is not traditional learning in a classroom with a teacher and students, plus the board.…”

“…In recent years, instructors have been concerned about mobile devices as the new media for learning content delivery, the collaboration between the members of the educational community, at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education [18,25,30,33,36,37,38,46]. In this way, they go along with the new generations of students that were 'born with smartphones' and are very familiar with the latest technologies [3,30].…”

`I make up a silly name'

“…Whilst online content has opened up significant new opportunities and experiences for children to learn and have fun [39,58,63,67], parents and educators alike are raising concerns about the rapid adoption of online content and apps by children, in particular as it relates to the amount of time spent online, and online safety [36,40,47]. A recent survey has shown that parents consider privacy their primary concern regarding their children's use of the Internet [47].…”

Using tablets in free play: The implementation of the digital play framework in Greece

“…Research on positive outcomes from the use of new digital technologies in specific learning areas, such as mathematics (Kyriakides, Meletiou‐Mavrotheris, & Prodromou, ; Papadakis, Kalogiannakis, & Zaranis, ) or literacy (Merchant, ; Wohlwend, ) is steadily growing. In contrast, the combination of “play” with “technology” has not been well understood (Yelland, ).…”