The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education: Secondary versus Higher Education FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Introduction Poll 2001: secondary education Poll 2005: secondary education Poll 2005: higher education Overview FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Research: ‣ The use of ICT in mathematics education ‣ What is the influence of CAS on the learning process of last year pupils? ‣ History: Introduction FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Structure Flemish secondary education: ASO → general secondary education BSO → professional secondary education KSO → art secondary education TSO → technical secondary education Introduction FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Research: ‣ The use of ICT in mathematics education ‣ What is the influence of CAS on the learning process of last year pupils? ‣ History: ‧ Student population has changed => large diversity ‧ They see no links between the different math courses ‧ Mathematical creativity and problem solving skills were decreasing Introduction FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Can we give our pupils a better preparation with the use of CAS? => Teaching experiment! Preliminary phase 2001: poll for all mathe- matics teachers of Flemish secondary schools Introduction FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Questionnaire with open and closed questions: ‣ Experiences of the teachers with ICT ‣ Infrastructure of the schools ‣ Frequency of the use ‣ Influence of ICT on the learning process of pupils Sent to “all” Flemish schools of general secondary education (± 600) Poll 2001: secondary education FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis 254 respondents 87% used ICT during the lessons ‣ 4% exclusively used a graphic calculator ‣ 49% used a computer and math software ‣ 34% used both Graphic calculator was very popular (38%) Most teachers have Cabri (86%), Derive (67%) and Excel (72%) at their disposal Poll 2001: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis 25%: infrastructure of the school is not sufficient → computer lab too small or often occupied Motivation of the teachers = practical Influence on the learning process? No idea! 83%: supporters of well-considered use Poll 2001: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Differences between the respondents: frequency and method “Older” generation (40+): enthusiastic about new challenge “Younger” generation: hardly prepared during their training and no time for ICT Poll 2001: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Remarks about the use of ICT in higher education: ‣ Young teachers didn’t use ICT because there was no ICT during their training ‣ The use of ICT in higher education is arbitrary Own experience: efficient use of Maple but no use of graphic or symbolic calculator Poll 2001: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Evolution of the use of ICT in secondary education? Online poll containing open and closed questions Invitation sent by to “all” Flemish secondary schools (± 700) 382 respondents Poll 2005: secondary education FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Graphic calculators are still popular (60%) Most teachers have Cabri (90%), Derive (66%) and Excel (84%) at their disposal ( GC = graphic calculator)

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Motivation of the teachers: ‣ Practical ‣ Motivation of the pupils increases ‣ Graphic, algebraic and numeric point of view ‣ Pupils better understand and better remember the mathematical concepts! 90%: supporters of well-considered use

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Differences between the respondents: frequency and method Almost every mathematics teacher uses ICT: young and old The use of ICT is implemented in the training of young teachers

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Remarks about the use of ICT in higher education: “It would be a great improvement if students were allowed to use ICT in higher education. Until now students are not allowed to use a graphic calculator in a mathematics Olympiad or an entrance examination. Sometimes I have the feeling that I pay too much attention to the use of ICT. (…) As long as my pupils perform well in higher education I won’t change my ICT approach.”

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Graphmatica: popular alternative (39%) 22% uses applets or online exercises Use of CD-ROM (provided by handbook) is new phenomenon 50% of the schools have a virtual learning environment ‣ 42%: communication with pupils and sharing files ‣ 17%: communication with colleagues and principal

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Infrastructure of schools has changed: ‣ Multimedia rooms ‣ Open education environments 34%: infrastructure of the school is not sufficient → computer lab often occupied

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Poll 2005: sec. education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING The use of ICT during tests and exams: ‣ 58% (vs. 60%) allows the use of a graphic calculator: “sometimes” versus “always” ‣ 21% (vs. 86%) allows the use of a computer algebra system or software ‧ Organizational problems ‧ No computer at home ‧ Differences in frequency and method

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Can we generalize the remarks of our respondents with respect to higher education? Short online poll with closed questions Invitation sent by to “all” Flemish lectors and professors of mathematics, statistics and related courses of a first year bachelor 159 answers of 120 different persons Poll 2005: higher education FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis The respondents: Poll 2005: higher education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis “Do you stimulate the use of this tool during the course?“ Sc. Calc.Gr. Calc.ComputerAppletsInternet 26%22%54%23%45% Poll 2005: higher education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis “Do you stimulate the use of this tool during the course?“ Poll 2005: higher education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis “Do you allow students to use this tool during the exam?“ Poll 2005: higher education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis “Do you allow students to use this tool during the exam?” math stat. other Poll 2005: higher education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Conclusions: Professors and lectors stimulate the use of ICT in higher education The use of ICT in the first year bachelor doesn’t reflect the use of ICT in the complete training No suitable infrastructure => no ICT! Poll 2005: higher education (results) FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

The use of Technology in Flemish Mathematics Education – Sandy Van Wonterghem 21/07/2006 Faculty of Engineering – Department of Mathematical Analysis Sandy Van Wonterghem Galglaan 2 B-9000 GENT We are very grateful to the Fund “Prof. Wuytack” for their financial support. FACULTY OF ENGINEERING