Students’ self-awareness of their mathematical thinking: Can self-assessment be supported through the affordances of CAS integrated learning apps on smartphones?

Abstract

A range of digital technology to support mathematics learning is freely available on the internet, particularly apps offering immediate access to different representations and calculations. In this article, we analyze some learning apps (available for smartphones) with an integrated computer algebra system (CAS) that offer support when learning how to solve equations. In the context of solving quadratic equations, use of apps in an informal way to learn how to solve not only touches on learning issues in the field of algebra, but also aspects of students’ self-regulation and the use of technology. These different aspects are discussed in the theoretical background and are used to guide our m..