Effective Application of Maple Software to Reduce Student Teachers' Errors In Integral Calculus

Abstract

This study explored the effective application of Maple software to reduce student teachers’ errors in Integral Calculus at Evangelical Presbyterian College of Education, Volta Region – Ghana. The study employed the quasi-experimental non-equivalent group design. Convenience and simple random sampling techniques were employed to obtain a sample of 80 students, which consisted of 40 students in the control group and 40 in the experimental group. Teacher-made Pre, -Post-Calculus Achievement Tests (CAT), and questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Descriptive, Independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test were used in analyzing the data. Descriptive error analysis revealed that students committed many conceptual, procedural and technical errors when solving Integral Calculus tasks. The results also indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between students of the experimental group exposed to the use of Maple software in learning integral calculus to the control group exposed to traditional methods. The researchers recommend Maple assisted instruction in the teaching and learning of Integral Calculus and also the need to employ a blended teaching approach, in which Maple software is used simultaneously with traditional teaching strategy.