PROCEEDINGS OF THE 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (Vol 2)
2012
Portland, Oregon
The Role of Technology in Constructing Collaborative Learning Spaces
Page: 2-421
Traditionally, research on technology in mathematics education focuses on interac- tions between the user and the technology, but little is known is about how technology can facilitate interaction among students. In this preliminary report we will explore the role that iPads versus traditional laptops play in shaping the learning spaces in which students explore concepts in busi- ness calculus. We will report on classroom observations and a series of small-group interviews in which students explore the concepts of local and global extrema. Our preliminary results are that the introducing the iPad, a portable device with intuitive applications, enhances collaboration by allowing students to transition back and forth from private to public learning spaces.