Evaluating mobile apps for STEM education with in-service teachers

Download
index.pdf
2017
Tantu, Özlem
Show full item record
939
views
368
downloads
The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of in-service teachers on mobile app evaluation for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. This multi-method research was carried out through interviews with 10 teachers from K-12 schools who were experienced in STEM education and versed in educational mobile app use. Participants included one high school physics teacher, five elementary science teachers, and four information and computer technology teachers from both private and public schools in different cities of Turkey in 2016-2017 Spring semester. Data sources of the study were structured interview questions and mobile app evaluation form included in the interview. The mobile app evaluation criteria of in-service teachers were examined coupled with how they perceived STEM education and how they utilized mobile app integration into STEM context to provide a holistic interpretation. As the results indicated, the in-service teachers most commonly emphasized interdisciplinarity and product v development while defining STEM education. They underlined different contributions of STEM education on students such as academic success, positive attitude, skill development, and motivation; contributions on teachers such as job satisfaction and professional development; and contributions on society such as raising individual profile needed, development, finding solutions to society problems and contributions on economy. Within STEM context, teachers reported utilizing mobile apps for assessment, content presentation, scientific measurements, content development, attraction and gamification. According to the in-service teachers, mobile app use positively impacts STEM education practices. They found previously suggested educational mobile app evaluation criteria significant within STEM context and they reported considering further features while selecting mobile apps for STEM education. These results allowed validation and refinement of the mobile app evaluation framework for STEM education and provided recommendations for both mobile learning and STEM education literature. 
Mathematics, Technology, Engineering, Science, Computer-assisted instruction., Student teachers, Educational technology.
http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12620970/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/26447
Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis

Suggestions

Observable indicators of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) in science classrooms through video research
Ocak, Ceren; Baran, Evrim; Department of Educational Sciences (2016)
The purpose of the study was to examine the observable indicators of science teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) through a multiple case study with video research. The study was carried out in a private campus school offering primary and secondary education level of education. Following multiple case study methodology, design and implementation of process of technology- enhanced science instruction among in-service science teachers were investigated in- depth in order to explore ob...
Investigating the use of technology on pre-service elementary mathematics teachers' plane geometry problem solving strategies
Koyuncu, İlhan; Akyüz, Didem; Çakıroğlu, Erdinç; Department of Elementary Science and Mathematics Education (2013)
The purpose of this study was to investigate plane geometry problem solving strategies of pre-service elementary mathematics teachers in technology and paper-and-pencil environments after receiving an instruction with GeoGebra. Qualitative research strategies were used to investigate teacher candidates‘ solution strategies. The data was collected and analyzed by means of a multiple case study design. The study was carried out with 7 pre-service elementary mathematics teachers. The main data sources were cla...
Middle school mathematics teachers’ mathematical practices in teaching slope, linear equations, and graphs in technology enhanced classroom environment
Yemen Karpuzcu, Seçil; Işıksal Bostan, Mine; Department of Elementary Education (2017)
The aim of this study was to examine an in-service middle school mathematics teacher’s mathematical practices in teaching slope, linear equations and graphs in a technology enhanced classroom environment while enacting an instructional sequence that was designed based on the national curriculum. The technology utilized in the study was GeoGebra materials within computers that were developed by the teacher and the researcher to be used for the instructional sequence. The data was collected during the spring ...
Investigation of attitudes of middle grade students towards use of technology in mathematics lessons
Aytekin, Emine; Işıksal Bostan, Mine; Department of Elementary Science and Mathematics Education (2015)
The initial aim of the study is to develop a valid and reliable scale in order to measure attitudes of middle school students towards the use of technology in mathematics lessons and then, to examine elementary students’ attitudes towards the use of technology in mathematics lesson. Moreover, the current study is sought to explore whether these attitudes of elementary students towards the use of technology in mathematics lesson differs by gender and grade level, respectively. Data was collected in the sprin...
The effects of computer-assisted instruction on the achievement, attitudes and retention of fourth grade mathematics students in North Cyprus
Pilli, Olga; Aksu, Meral (2013-03-01)
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the educational software Frizbi Mathematics 4 on 4th grade student's mathematics achievement, retention, attitudes toward mathematics and attitude toward computer assisted learning. Two groups (experimental and control) of students from the state primary school in Gazimagusa, North Cyprus were used in this study. The control group was taught using a lecture-based traditional instruction and experimental group was taught using educational software, name...
Citation Formats
Ö. Tantu, “Evaluating mobile apps for STEM education with in-service teachers,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2017.
METU IIS - Integrated Information Service open@metu.edu.tr