Given that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) Ireland, in a Review of Mathematics in Post-Primary Education (2006) maintains that ICT has significant role to play in the exploration and investigation in mathematics; should the use of a PC game in the teaching of calculus be considered, as it would address one of the stated NCCA goals, namely; to provide the opportunity for individualised learning.

Abstract

As the difficulties experienced by some students of mathematics in the Irish Leaving Certificate system increase, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) Ireland, conducted a review of mathematics in post-primary education. The Review of Mathematics in Post-Primary Education (2006) found that ICT has a significant role to play in the exploration and investigation of mathematics. This project examined whether the use of a PC game in the teaching of calculus is a viable application of ICT as it addresses one of the stated NCCA goals, namely; to provide the opportunity for individualised learning. This project involved the modification of a popular game to include some calculus components and to obtain the views of teachers of calculus with regard to the pedagogical value of such a game.