TECHNOLOGY-SUPPORTED MATH INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Summary Paper

The paper entitled TECHNOLOGY-SUPPORTED MATH INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT has adopted the term “math difficulty” to include terms frequently used to identify students who have difficulty with mathematics. This will include literature that addresses math achievement from various groups such as students at risk or at disadvantage, with dyscalculia, learning disabilities, and so on in order to see a more complete picture of how students struggle with mathematical knowledge and learning.

 A. Goals of the Research:

·         To identify important areas in need of research and development

·         To examine a variety of technologies that can enhance the mathematical learning of all students, but especially those students with math difficulty

B. MATHEMATICAL KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING

Mathematicians and cognitive scientists appear to agree that at least three basic types of mathematical knowledge exist and are required for the development of mathematical literacy and competence.

These three types of knowledge are:

1. Declarative

2. Procedural

3. Conceptual.

A brief overview of these knowledge types is provided below.

	Declarative knowledge	Procedural knowledge	conceptual knowledge
Definition	Considered factual knowledge about mathematics	Defined as the rules, algorithms, or procedures used to solve mathematical tasks	Connected web of information in which the linking relationships are as important as the pieces of discrete information that are linked
Example	a. 4 + 7 = 11 b. the definition of a square	The order of operations is a rule for simplifying expressions that have more than one operation	, procedural knowledge that is linked to conceptual knowledge can help students select the appropriate mathematical operation to use in a particular situation, because the conceptual knowledge helps them understand the underlying reasons for selecting that operation
Purpose	Serves as the building blocks for procedural knowledge.	Provides procedural steps to a full understanding of interrelated pieces of information

Source: 

Hasselbring, T.S., Lott, A.C., and Zydney, J.M. (2006). Technology-Supported Math Instruction for

      Students with Disabilities: Two Decades of Research and Development. Washington, DC: CITEd, Center

      for Implementing Technology in Education (www.cited.org).

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