Effect of information and communication technology (ICT) on the students' achievement in mathematics at secondry level

Abstract

In the present scientific and technological age, since the conventional teaching methods are not sufficient to arouse interest among the students and do not meet up to the intellectual, psychological and emotional needs of the students in the new millennium, the methods of teaching mathematics need to be changed. The integration of technology into teaching and learning of mathematics has also not escaped the attention of educators. As a discipline, mathematics too is very much influenced by the rapid development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and mathematics educators have been looking at ways to integrate ICT into the curriculum over the last decade. The key benefits promotes greater collaboration among students and encourages communication and sharing of knowledge. ICT gives rapid and accurate feedback to students and this contributes towards positive motivation. It also allows them to focus on strategies and interpretations, answers rather than spend time on tedious computational calculations Recent developments in technology have changed the world outside as well as inside the classroom; making it quite eye-catching and interesting for the students to know and to learn. Developments in the application and dissemination of knowledge and information technology have had changing demands on education. The infusion of information and communication technology (ICT) into teaching and learning and for that matter into actual and virtual classroom has generated much interest in educational research in recent years. ICT have the potential of proving an alternative and more effective teaching and learning tool in education. Evidence emanating from research literature suggests that ICT has a powerful and significant impact on education both in terms of students affective and cognitive outcomes in learning any subject of their choice. It has tended to make learning joyful and lasting in very many ways.