Teachers' Perceptions and Classroom Application of Mathematical Computer Software

Mathematics teachers from elementary and secondary school settings reported that the main advantage of instructional software pertained to enhancing students' motivation and educational experiences, whereas the main disadvantage pertained to the poor content and sequencing of much of the available software. Teachers typically used software as a supplemental activity but wanted more programs that encouraged students' cognitive reasoning, problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills in mathematics. These findings support the notion that although use of computer software has the potential to motivate, provide practice, and facilitate students' learning and thinking in mathematics, students still require appropriate teacher-led instruction to enhance their mathematics knowledge as they interact with the software.