Abstract:

The aim of this study is to explore the impact on kindergarten children’s mathematical competence after the implementation of a software application on counting with tablet computers. The application consisted of some counting and calculation activities, designed following the background of realistic mathematics education and more specifically that of the learning teaching trajectory for the domain of counting and calculation. Four kindergarten schools of Heraklion participated in the study, which was conducted during spring 2017. The research followed the pre-test and post-test model, using the Early Numeracy Test (ENT), an instrument measuring the early mathematical competence. The test comprises of questions for the concepts of comparison, classification, correspondence, seriation, using counting words, structured counting, resultative counting, and general knowledge of numbers. The results of the study support a positive correlation between children’s early numeracy competence and the integration of tablet computers in teaching and learning numbers.

Keywords:

Counting, number, software, realistic mathematics education, kindergarten.