Parent’s experience in remote learning with digital and physical mathematical modelling

in Research and Practice in Technology Learning (2023), 18

In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Luxembourg suspended in-school teaching and learning towards remote teaching. A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education after three weeks of ... [more ▼]

In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Luxembourg suspended in-school teaching and learning towards remote teaching. A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education after three weeks of confinement, showed that more than half of the parents faced difficulties when using remote teaching with their students. To tackle this new challenge, we adapted our research to the use of augmented reality, digital and physical mathematical modelling in remote mathematics education for elementary schools. The elementary school students (aged 5 to 12) created cultural artifacts (i.e., Easter egg cups) during the confinement. In this paper, we will describe mathematical modelling in remote teaching and further concentrate on parents’ perspectives, who played an essential role in assisting their children. Moreover, we will discuss different didactical principles that emerged from the task design during the study through parents’ eyes. Thus, understanding parents’ perspectives became highly important in enabling us to improve task designs and related pedagogical approaches in remote teaching. The data collected in this study included semi-structured interviews with students, parents, and teachers as well as questionnaires and field notes. We followed an exploratory stance with our data analyses, primarily utilizing grounded theory (Corbin & Strauss, 1990, 2014) approaches. Through the insights we gained from our findings, we aim to explain how the parents perceived teaching and learning mathematical modelling in our experiments, how they scaffolded the given tasks, and what support they required and would need in future remote teaching. [less ▲]

3D Modelling for AR and 3D printing in Teacher Training

Scientific Conference (2022, October 07)

School activities integrating students’ environments into teaching aim to develop skills and strategies to solve problems in real-world situations and can be useful in hybrid teaching. Such activities can ... [more ▼]

School activities integrating students’ environments into teaching aim to develop skills and strategies to solve problems in real-world situations and can be useful in hybrid teaching. Such activities can encourage and motivate exploring skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). Hybrid teaching usually uses technologies and connects virtual and physical worlds. We use technologies like 3D modelling for Augmented Reality (AR) or 3D printing with GeoGebra and created an exercise introducing them in a lecture for pre-service mathematics students. The exercise combines the possibility to introduce these technologies, can be used in hybrid teaching and connects to the Austrian mathematics curriculum. The exercise consists of 3D modelling mathematical mazes that can be explored using AR on handheld devices and can also be 3D printed. We used it in online, offline and hybrid scenarios with pre- and in-service teachers and will show resulting presentations of teacher projects. [less ▲]

Exploring Mathematical concepts in an Ecosystem of STEAM Learning, consisting of Physical Objects, Digital Toolkits and Tutoring Systems, 3D Printing and Outdoor Mathematical Trails

Poster (2022, February 04)

We performed several research studies on various technologies such as automated tutoring and GPS-assisted systems as well as Computer Assisted Design, Augmented Reality, and 3D Printing solutions; with ... [more ▼]

We performed several research studies on various technologies such as automated tutoring and GPS-assisted systems as well as Computer Assisted Design, Augmented Reality, and 3D Printing solutions; with various groups of teacher educators, teachers, students and parents. The selected technologies offered different opportunities and developed varied skills for each stakeholder group. This poster outlines our technology ecosystems with different target groups and core findings of our studies. [less ▲]

Case study on augmented reality, digital and physical modelling with mathematical learning disabilities students in an elementary school in Luxemburg

in International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education (2021), 28(3), 125-132

This paper reports on a case study of two elementary school students with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) (ages 10 and 11) using augmented reality (AR), digital and physical modelling in ... [more ▼]

This paper reports on a case study of two elementary school students with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) (ages 10 and 11) using augmented reality (AR), digital and physical modelling in mathematics class. MLD students worked on modelling geometric shapes (cubes, cuboids, squared pyramids, and octahedrons) and forms (polygons) by combining real-world objects with AR and creating a copy of geometric shapes or missing parts with a 3D printing device. The study focused on the development of process skills and mathematical concepts, tried to identify changes in the visual-spatial memory, and documented the learning behaviour in class. Further, we collected data through task-based interviews with both students. Based on our findings, we present settings and manipulatives which are likely to foster process skills and mathematical concepts in geometry tasks suitable for MLD elementary school students. [less ▲]

First results of the iterative STEAM design process in 3D modelling and printing with pre-service teachers

Scientific Conference (2021, May 27)

While we examined mathematical modelling of architectures with CAD software during the last years, we intended in our higher education courses in pre-service elementary school teachers' initial training ... [more ▼]

While we examined mathematical modelling of architectures with CAD software during the last years, we intended in our higher education courses in pre-service elementary school teachers' initial training to expand the complexity of the modelling tasks. In addition, our previous research results indicated a high difference between the quality and functionality of designs by students. Therefore, we investigated the design process in 3D modelling and printing. Based on the industrial iterative design process (e.g., design of a pen), we became aware of the importance of iterative process milestones, quality controls, discussions and peer evaluations. Therefore, we created a remote teaching course for pre-service teachers to design complex objects (e.g., functionality) and create learning settings and tasks based on an iterative design process concept. We will present the first results and reflections at this conference. [less ▲]

Mixed-methods research in STEAM outdoor trails in elementary school pre-service teacher training

Scientific Conference (2021, March 25)

Outdoor STEAM integrated framework in elementary schools in Luxembourg using MathCityMap and GeoGebra 3D Calculator

Scientific Conference (2020, December 15)

In elementary schools in Luxemburg, sciences and mathematics are generally taught in class based essentially on textbooks. However, the findings of multiple studies on understanding and applying skills in ... [more ▼]

In elementary schools in Luxemburg, sciences and mathematics are generally taught in class based essentially on textbooks. However, the findings of multiple studies on understanding and applying skills in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) report that students need hands-on activities on real-world objects. Furthermore, in times of the COVID-19 pandemic, where numerous restrictions and risks dominate teaching inside the classroom, outdoor learning is safer and offers many opportunities. Hence, we created outdoor mathematical trails with a STEAM integrated approach for elementary schools using the free educational software MathCityMap and the dynamic mathematics software GeoGebra 3D. In these outdoor trails, students used a set of promising technologies, i.e. AR (Augmented Reality) or GPS, to support STEAM education. Based on results from our first study on outdoor mathematical trails in June 2020 (in review), we developed and evaluated a framework on outdoor STEAM integrated teaching. This framework was used for further outdoor task and trail creations in elementary schools, which we investigated by conducting semi-structured interviews with students and teachers. Hence, we will present how this framework was used in elementary schools to create outdoor mathematical trails and describe how it affected the students' learning. [less ▲]

Fostering process skills with the educational technology software MathemaTIC in elementary schools

in Donevska-Todorova, Ana; Faggiano, Eleonora; Trgalova, Jana (Eds.) et al Proceedings of the 10th ERME TOPIC CONFERENCE (ETC10) on Mathematics Education in the Digital Age (MEDA) (2020, September 17)

This study reports the use of automated tutoring and scaffolding implemented in the module “arithmetic word problem” in the educational technology software MathemaTIC in grade 3 (age 8 to 10). We examined ... [more ▼]

This study reports the use of automated tutoring and scaffolding implemented in the module “arithmetic word problem” in the educational technology software MathemaTIC in grade 3 (age 8 to 10). We examined 246 students with access to MathemaTIC and receiving tutoring and scaffolding through a one-to-one learning setting with this technology. The control group (n=226) had access to the same learning tasks and worked with paper-and-pencil without MathemaTIC but with their teachers. Results showed that the experimental group finished with higher outcome scores than the control group. This paper will outline the study and attempts to explain these results. [less ▲]

Connecting the real world to mathematical models in elementary schools in Luxemburg

in Proceedings of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (2020, July), 40(2), 1-6

In the Luxemburgish national curriculum for elementary schools (MENFP, 2011) experimentations and discoveries of mathematics concepts in courses are strongly recommended. Elementary school teachers should ... [more ▼]

In the Luxemburgish national curriculum for elementary schools (MENFP, 2011) experimentations and discoveries of mathematics concepts in courses are strongly recommended. Elementary school teachers should engage students in active mathematical modelling approaches, where they can develop processes and content skills through discoveries. Moreover, learned skills should be connected to real-world problems and situations to foster a better understanding of students’ living environments. Nevertheless, this teaching culture in mathematics is unusual in elementary schools and teachers tend to teach based on textbooks. Students mostly learn mathematics by imitation and repetition rather than through modelling mathematics with real-world problems and situations. Thus, to develop new methodologies in teaching mathematics and to meet the requirements of the national curriculum, we designed different technology-enhanced teaching and learning methods to engage students in experimental approaches within and outside classrooms. Moreover, we conducted three studies with digital and physical modelling, augmented reality, and a tutoring system in elementary school mathematics courses. Based on our collected data, we identified settings and tasks likely to support active mathematical modelling approaches. [less ▲]

Discovering Everyday Mathematical Situations Outside the Classroom with MathCityMap and GeoGebra 3D

in Ludwig, Matthias; Jablonski, Simone; Caldeira, Amélia (Eds.) et al Research on Outdoor STEM Education in the digiTal Age: Proceedings of the ROSETA Online Conference in June 2020 (2020, June 10)

In elementary school, teaching and learning activities aim to develop, among others, students’ skills to acquire deeper understanding of their living environments. There are numerous opportunities for ... [more ▼]

In elementary school, teaching and learning activities aim to develop, among others, students’ skills to acquire deeper understanding of their living environments. There are numerous opportunities for students to recognize forms, shapes, and mathematical connections in everyday situations. These everyday situations can be simulated in classrooms; however, educational technologies offer new approaches to extend classroom activities, teachers can simulate and design shapes through Augmented Reality and 3D printing within or beyond the classroom. To stimulate students’ everyday mathematical connections utilizing these technologies could assist in developing activities outside the classroom in urban or in natural environments. Through this approach students could utilize or enhance their mathematical and technical skills within their usual living environments. Utilising educational software such as MathCityMap, GeoGebra 3D Calculator, and other 3D modelling software we developed examples of tasks that could offer easy transitions from in- to out-side of classrooms. In this paper, we will describe learning and teaching aims of these tasks and outline further research and development directions to broaden opportunities to develop students’ mathematical, design and modelling skills. [less ▲]