Comparing the Effectiveness of Using ICT for Teaching Geometrical Shapes in Kindergarten and the First Grade

The purpose of this study is to investigate if information and communications technology (ICT) helps to improve first grade and kindergarten students' basic geometry achievement. The author's research compares the level of geometrical competence of the first grade students and kindergarten students taught using an ICT oriented learning method specifically targeting ‘Realistic Mathematics Education' (RME) for geometry concepts, as opposed to traditional teaching methodology. The study dealt with first grade and kindergarten students in Crete and Athens. The experimental group of the consisted of 237 students who were taught shapes with the support of computers and the control group had 247 students. The results of the study indicated that teaching and learning through ICT is an interactive process for students at the first grade and kindergarten level and has a positive effect for the learning of shapes using the background of RME theory.