Developing a package for integration of information and communication technology into the primary school mathematics teacher- education programme

Project Abstract

This research project focuses on the development of a comprehensive package aimed at integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into primary school mathematics teacher education programmes. The integration of ICT in teacher education is crucial in preparing educators to effectively teach mathematics in alignment with modern technological advancements. The primary goal of this project is to enhance the professional development of primary school mathematics teachers by equipping them with the necessary ICT skills and knowledge to enhance their teaching practices. The research methodology involves a combination of literature review, expert consultations, and pilot testing of the developed package. The literature review explores the current trends in ICT integration in teacher education and the benefits of incorporating ICT in mathematics instruction. Expert consultations are conducted with mathematics educators, ICT specialists, and teacher training institutions to gather insights and feedback on the design and content of the package. The pilot testing phase involves implementing the package in a select group of primary school mathematics teacher education programmes to evaluate its effectiveness and gather suggestions for improvement. The package developed in this project includes a variety of resources and materials designed to support the integration of ICT in primary school mathematics teacher education. These resources include lesson plans, teaching guides, interactive multimedia materials, assessment tools, and professional development modules. The package is designed to be flexible and adaptable to different teacher education contexts, allowing educators to customize their use of ICT based on their specific needs and constraints. The expected outcomes of this project include improved ICT skills among primary school mathematics teachers, enhanced teaching practices that integrate ICT effectively, and increased student engagement and learning outcomes in mathematics. By providing primary school mathematics teachers with the necessary tools and resources to integrate ICT into their teaching, this project seeks to improve the quality of mathematics education in primary schools and ultimately contribute to the overall improvement of student achievement in mathematics.

Project Overview

<p> Mathematics, the science of space and number, plays a great role in the development of an individual, society and nation. To Sidhu (1995) a common man can get on sometimes ‘very’ well without learning how to read and write, but he can never pull on without learning how to count and calculate. Any person ignorant of mathematics will be at the mercy of others and will be easily cheated. A person may belong either to the lowest or highest class of society, but he utilizes knowledge of mathematics in one form or the other. Going beyond speaking of an engineer, a business man, an industrialist or a banker whose use of mathematics is glaring, a laborer has to calculate his wages, make purchases from the market, and adjust the expenditure of his income. Most individuals’ and group projects in life fail for want of sense of calculation. A person who can calculate, estimate and approximate properly can anticipate all the possible handicaps to be faced in a project and thus can adopt precautionary measures to avoid possible failures and loses. According to Osafehinti (1990) the influence of mathematics to the individual in his daily undertaking is so enormous that the knowledge of mathematics is indispensible tool for a successful and balanced human existence on this planet. This is in agreement with the views of UNESCO in Odili (2006) on the importance of mathematics. UNESCO maintained that “lack of arithmetical literacy, that is, skill and understanding of the fundamental operations with whole and rational numbers in decimal notations, on the part of millions of inhabitants of our planet shows either a lack of school or failure in instruction at elementary level. Because of the importance of this knowledge in every facet of life, it goes without question that the acquisition of skill and understanding of arithmetical computation and its application to the solution of everyday problems is still the primary objective of elementary school mathematics”. <br></p>