Affiliation:
1. Department of Mathematics and ICT Education, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
2. College of Education (Former), University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
3. College of Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Abstract
Drawing on a technology dispositions framework, this study examined the changes in teachers’ beliefs, attitudes, competence, and behavioral intentions toward the use of technology in the mathematics classroom, following their engagement in professional development (PD) mediated by GeoGebra software. In a case study research design, 11 mathematics teachers from a senior high school in Ghana were purposively selected to engage in a 1-year PD program. They worked in teams to design and enact GeoGebra-based mathematics lessons. A self-report questionnaire, semi-structured interview, and lesson observation were used for data collection. Self-report data were analyzed using mean, SD, paired sample t-test, and Hedges’ g. Interview and lesson observation data were analyzed using a thematic approach. The results indicated that teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, affective attitudes, and competence toward technology changed following the PD. To some extent, they were able to make the goals of their mathematics lessons explicit and sequenced their instructional activities to engage students’ geometric and algebraic thinking. However, their intention to put the new pedagogy into classroom practice in the future depended on multiple contextual factors: administrative support, continual professional training, and provision of adequate technology facilities. These findings have implications for practices in mathematics education, technology dispositions frameworks, and PD.