The effect of computer assisted instruction related with the surface area and volume of geometrical objects onto the achievement and the attitude of eight grade primary school students

In this study, the effect of computer assisted instruction related with surface area and volume of geometrical objects onto the achievement and attitude of eight grade primary school students was investigated. A pretest-posttest control group experimental study design was used.The study took place in the 2008?2009 academic years on 46 eight grade students. The students in this experimental group (n=23) were instructed by using a computer assisted instruction method for five weeks (20 class hours) with the educational software prepared by the investigator. The lessons of the students in the control group (n=23) were instructed by using the traditional instruction method within the same process. The data used during the study was obtained by using a mathematics attitude scale for which the reliability, the validity were estimated previously and with the help of mathematics achievement test which was prepared by the investigator. The t test was used for the analysis of the data.The analysis of the results indicated that the mathematics achievement of the students in both group (experimental group and control group) was improved but the improvement for the experimental group was significantly much more than the control group?s improvement. On the other hand, after the application, the average attitude score of the mathematics lesson experimental group students was significantly much higher than the average attitude score obtained during the pre-application. When the achievements of the students at the end of application were analyzed based on the gender, there is no significant difference was recognized between the average achievement of the girls and the boys.These results indicate that, the computer assisted education related with the surface areas and volumes of geometrical object affects the attitude and mathematical achievement of eight grade primary school students positively.