All of these features can be used by students working at the computer for
individual practice and investigations, or with a data projector for whole-class
demonstrations and investigations on a whiteboard.
This paper reports on an investigation into whether the inbuilt structure of an
online mathematics learning system might assist teachers who are inexperienced
users of ICT to develop their ability to teach mathematics with technology in new
and different ways that constructively engage students in their learning. The specific
online learning system used in the study was Cambridge HOTmaths (http://www.
hotmaths.com.au), a system that incorporates all the student activities listed above as
well as a student messaging and reporting facility.
In designing the study, we were mindful of the call by Arnold (2004) that
researchers seek to carefully examine the possibilities and potential of new
technologies in realistic classroom settings, and of the suggestion of Thomas and
Chinnappan (2008) that in-depth studies of classroom practice are likely to be more
fruitful in helping to understand the issues concerning how and why teachers adopt
technological tools. The aim of our research was to seek answers to the following
questions:
& What happens in a classroom situation where the online mathematics learning
system is implemented with minimal professional development by teachers who
have limited experience with technology?
& Do teachers become more confident users of the technology?
& Do teachers shift towards more student-centred teaching approaches?
420
M. Cavanagh, M. Mitchelmore
The significance of the research is that it provides insights into how teachers who
lack technology experience and training begin to use technology in the classroom.