The use of ICT in teaching addition and subtraction to young learners

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to explore the potential benefits of using different ICT resources, in presenting different addition and subtraction tasks in the Primary schools. A resource pack consisting of a Bee Bot and seventeen online activities that can be used as part of Addition and Subtraction lessons at Year Two level, were selected to address different properties and structures of these number operations. Four teachers, currently teaching in local primary state schools, were interviewed about their opinion on the use of ICT resources in mathematics lessons, and the views of a local ICT Education Officer, in the primary sector was also noted. Following these interviews, a Bee Bot and eight out of the seventeen online activities, were trialed out by four Year Two children of different mathematical ability levels, coming from different state schools. This was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the ICT activities as a teaching resource through the children's reactions, enjoyment, interaction and learning. Even though some teachers interviewed were currently still not making proper use of ICT resources, the children demonstrated a vivid enthusiasm to use Bee Bot and online activities as a fundamental part of their learning. Data gathered shows a clear indication that the use of ICT resources if chosen appropriately can provide a novel and valuable learning resource within the classroom for the topics of Addition and Subtraction.