The relationship between integrating educational technology in mathematics education and the mathematics achievement of German students

Abstract

The Education system in Germany recently invested five billion euro in digital infrastructure for about 40 000 schools. Therefore, this mixed-method study explored the relationship between integrating educational technology in mathematics education and the mathematics achievement of Grade 4 German students. Descriptive statistics and two-level Hierarchical Linear Models (HLM) were used to analyse the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 questionnaire data of students, their parents, mathematics teachers and principals. Semi-structured interviews and classroom observations were also used to collect data at two schools, which were conveniently and purposefully selected. Findings from HLM revealed that students who owned a mobile phone, a computer/tablet as well as those who used computers/tablets ‘every or almost every day’ at home, at school and other places for schoolwork, achieved lower mathematics scores than their counterparts. While the shared use of a computer/tablet and an internet connection positively and significantly predict student performances.