Measuring Community College Math Students Self-Report of Learning Engagement when Interactive Whiteboards Are Used in Classroom Teaching

Technology is becoming an important tool in the field of education, especially in post-secondary studies. Higher education in the 21st century age of technology is impacted greatly by instructional technology. The problem addressed in this study was the integration of technology as a teaching tool in community college math classrooms is not yet being fully embraced and funded despite the vital tool technology has become in mathematics. The purpose of this quantitative study was to gather data on community college math students' degree of learning engagement when interactive whiteboards are used in the classroom. The sample used in the study was a convenience non-probability sample of approximately n = 100 community college students selected from four classrooms of two different math courses at the study site where smart boards are used in the math classes. The quantitative data collection method used in the study was a 13-item survey with a 4-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agrees to strongly disagree. Surveys were collected and an analysis was conducted to determine the degree, if any, of math students' self-report of learning engagement when whiteboards are used in the classroom. The results of this study showed that the respondents self- reported an increase in learning engagement in classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboard technology. In addition, this study revealed no significant differences in the findings from two separate independent groups. The findings propose the indications for further practice is the use of interactive whiteboard in math courses. The study findings also indicate a need for future research investigating the research question in other settings. Further, the need for research to investigate methods to increase professional development for instructor's usage was also indicated.