Designing an educational software of mathematics for elementary school students from the point of view of constructivism and its effectiveness

This investigation studies the view of constructivism computer-based education. The purpose of this study was to produce mathematics educational software based on constructivism and studies its effectiveness with two randomly chosen groups of subjects one control group and other experimental

The population under study consists of 34 students for experimental group and 36 for control group including girl students from Uremia primary schools in the academic year 1383-1384. Students were matched in two groups. In experimental group educational software was used and in control group ordinary education was used. The instruments for this study were a pre- and post-tests for academic achievement and a checklist for observation of teaching in class.

The analysis of u test shows there were significant relationships between constructivism software and grouping activities (z= 3/256, p<0/01) and between constructivism software and answer of students to high levels of cognitive domain (z=2/518, p<0/05) in experimental group in comparison to control group. The results of t test showed that learning by constructivism software increased motivation (t=3/318, p<0/01) also problem solving and problem posing for students (t=2/124, p< 0/01). The difference between experimental and control groups in academic post-tests was also significant (t=3/316, p<0/01).

Therefore, the null hypothesis is rejected meaning that constructivism computer-based education in comparison with ordinary instruction has a significant effect on student’s achievement.