Share Paper: An Examination of the Role of Technological Tools in Relation to the Cognitive Demand of Mathematical Tasks in Secondary Classrooms

1. Milan Sherman, University of Pittsburgh, United States

Abstract: The present study investigates the role of digital cognitive technologies in secondary mathematics classrooms in supporting students’ mathematical thinking while engaging with instructional tasks. Each of four teachers was observed daily for approximately one month. Mathematical tasks were collected via lesson observation field notes, student work, and interviews with the teacher. Tasks were coded in terms of the thinking requirements and the use of technology. Results indicate that teachers were more inclined to plan tasks which require high level thinking when using technology than without it, but had difficulty maintaining the high level thinking requirements during implementation with students. These ...