Abstract:
The purpose of the study wasto find out the use of Smartphone Mathematics Applications
(SMAs) among Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers (PMTs) in learning Mathematics at
teacher universities in Ghana. It further investigated the factors that influence PMTs’ use
of SMAs in learning mathematics and their perceptions about the use of SMAs in learning
mathematics. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The targeted population
for the study was made up of 1,840 PMTs at the two teacher universities in Ghana.
Purposive sampling was used to select the two teacher universities in Ghana and PMTs
owning mobile phones. Moreover, a stratified sampling technique was employed to select
a PMTs for the study. The sample comprised of 320 PMTs, 160 from Teacher University
A and the other 160 from Teacher University B. The instrument employed in this study
was a questionnaire. The results indicated that GeoGebra among other types of SMAs
was commonly used among most of the PMTs in learning mathematics and could be
effective when integrated in learning mathematics. However, the PMTs perceived that
the use of SMAs fascinate and make learning of mathematics more interesting and also
enable the accomplishment of mathematics tasks more easily and faster. Furthermore, the
PMTs have positive perceptions about the use of SMAs in learning mathematics. Results
from the Ordinal Logistics Regression Model (OLRM) revealed that among other factors,
awareness of the various SMAs influence PMTs’ use of SMAs in learning mathematics.
Based on the findings, recommendations were consequently made.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Mathematics Education, Faculty of Science
Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Mathematics Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
JUNE, 2019
