Low motivation levels experienced by students with exceptionalities in the area of mathematics
are often cited as a major factor negatively affecting their potential for success (Baird & Scott,
2009; Reichrath, de Witte, & Winkens, 2010). In the wake of many ongoing experiments using
new mobile technology and tablet devices in schools, this study examines the use of iPads from
Apple in a secondary mathematics classroom and its potential effect on the motivation of
students with exceptionalities. In addition, the study also takes an exploratory approach to
documenting the factors impacting the planning, implementation and student use of mobile
devices in the classroom. A total of 16 students, 1 teacher and 1 educational assistant
participated in this study. A mixed methodology approach was taken which included collecting
evidence from surveys and scales as well as from descriptive journals, interviews and
observational field notes. In order to assess the students’ level of motivation, the four attributes
from Keller’s 2006 ARCS Model were used as the basic analysis framework. These were:
attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction (Keller, ARCS Model, 2006). Preliminary
analysis of the attributes indicates relative consistency over the course of the study, with some
minor oddities explained further in the conclusions. An extensive list of exploratory findings
regarding planning, implementation and student use of mobile devices in the mathematics
classroom with students with exceptionalities indicated both positive and negative aspects
regarding the integration of the devices. Some positive aspects include the ability to meet the
needs of different levels, and types, of learners with a number of applications, as well as a
noticed increase in the collaboration and healthy competition among students. Contrary to this,
some negative aspects include the lack of availability of topic-specific applications and the level
of frustration experienced by some student in the initial stages of learning a new application. / UOIT
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OOSHDU.10155/238 |
| Date | 01 April 2012 |
| Creators | Wray, Lisa Anne-Marie |
| Contributors | Desjardins, Francois |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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