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Mathematics Education Research Journal

, Volume 28, Issue 1, pp 123–147 | Cite as

Showing and telling: using tablet technology to engage students in mathematics

  • Naomi Ingram
  • Sandra Williamson-Leadley
  • Keryn Pratt
Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

This paper reports on a qualitative investigation into the use of Show and Tell tablet technology in mathematics classrooms. A Show and Tell application (app) allows the user to capture voice and writing or text in real time. Described here are the perceptions of 11 teachers during and after their exploration into the use of Show and Tell in their primary and secondary classrooms. These perceptions were used to evaluate Show and Tell tablet technology against a framework of student engagement and effective pedagogy. The results of the study indicated that the teachers perceived both the level and the quality of the students’ engagement were high. Using Show and Tell apps enabled the teachers to enact effective pedagogy within their classroom practices. Importantly, through the use of Show and Tell recordings, students’ thinking became visible to themselves, their teachers and other students in the class. This thinking then formed the basis of robust discussions and negotiation about the mathematical concepts and the strategies the students used to solve problems.

Keywords

Tablet Mathematics learning Engagement Reflection Show and Tell 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our warm thanks to the teachers involved in the research project for their creativity and the time they spent in implementing Show and Tell in their classroom. We would also like to thank the Division of Humanities, University of Otago, for their contribution towards this project with the awarding of the Humanities Research Grant.

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Copyright information

© Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Inc. 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Naomi Ingram
    • 1
  • Sandra Williamson-Leadley
    • 1
  • Keryn Pratt
    • 1
  1. 1.University of Otago College of EducationDunedinNew Zealand

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