Dianne had completed a mathematics degree the year prior to the program with a minor in computer science. She had had several experiences helping teachers in mathematics classrooms in both middle and high school. She had strong beliefs about the importance of the use of ARTICLE IN PRESS 518 M.L. Niess / Teaching and Teacher Education 21 (2005) 509–523 technology in learning mathematics because ‘‘present day mathematicians’’ use it all the time. She indicated that technology ‘‘allows students to visualize and experience math in previously impossible ways’’. She planned to continually look back at the way she was taught math in high school and ‘‘compare it with the way society, math and technology have changed’’. With mathematics’ emphasis on problem solving using real world situations, she indicated that ‘‘the ‘real world’ is rich in its use of technology and many real problems occur with technology’’. Technology’s capability for speeding ‘‘up the problem solving process by performing rapid, complex computations’’, highlighted for her the importance for students doing computations by hand, ‘‘but since the technology is available, why not teach that at the same time and save some of the precious classroom time?’’ Her perspective on the use of technology was that ‘‘I will not refuse a new technology because it appears too difficult to learn. I will only refuse a new technology if it does not relate to mathematics.’’