TRANSITION FROM REALISTIC TO REAL WORLD PROBLEMS WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICAL EDUCATION - Paper - Geogebra

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky

The paper examines how technology reshapes mathematical education in early schooling by supporting the presentation of mathematical content and strengthening connections to students’ everyday experiences. It discusses benefits of learning elementary mathematical concepts through real-life situations and analyzes classroom examples using Geogebra. The study frames realistic mathematics education as a bridge from informal, visual problems to formal mathematical language, emphasizing exploration, explanation, reflection and recording.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Real world problems in the mathematical classroom

TRANSITION FROM REALISTIC TO REAL WORLD PROBLEMS WITH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICAL EDUCATION Natalija Budinski, Dragica Milinkovic Abstract: The availability of technology has a big impact on education, and that is the main reason for discussing the use of technologies in mathematical education in our paper. The availability of technology influences how mathematical contents could be presented to students. We present the benefits of learning mathematical concepts through real life situations in elementary mathematical education. Particularly, we will analyze classroom examples which will give students a clearer picture of the connection between the real world and learned mathematics. For that purpose we will use technology in the form of Geogebra. Key words: mathematical education, Geogebra, technology 1. Introduction The adoption of mathematical concepts in the earliest periods of education, affects not only the performance in mathematics, but also other aspects of education [6], [8] . Therefore, a lot of attention should be paid to the way of learning mathematics at an early age. Learning mathematics at the beginning of elementary school should encourage the development of mathematical thinking. According to Ginsburg [10], children should be able to interpret their real experiences in a mathematical form and understand the link between non-formal and mathematical expression. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to apply real-world situations to early mathematical education. One of the approaches, called realistic mathematics, deals with the way of learning mathematics where students acquire mathematical concepts through a context that is understandable and close to them. That kind of context is referred to as realistic. At first, the students learn about the problem that they can visualize, and then understand and solve, which leads them from an informal to a formal mathematical language. The idea of realistic mathematics education has been set up by Hans Freudenthal [9] . He argued that mathematics is a humanistic achievement and must be connected to reality, close and understandable to students and important to society. Realistic mathematics is part of the educational program in some countries, such as the Netherlands, the United States and England and there are numerous studies that confirm the efficacy of realistic mathematical education [15], [7] . The impact of technology in mathematical education is constantly increasing. It is important to emphasize that technology can not only be a tool that helps the students learn to be more efficiently, but can also contribute to a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts [18] . According to Steinbring, mathematical knowledge is formed by linking experiences through interaction with ideas, processes or structures [20] . This is the reason why we should find ways of teaching mathematics with technology that can be applied in practice. This is certainly not an easy task. The rapid development of technology and its use in everyday life is not adequately appreciated in education [17] . There are many problems that accompany technology integration in the classroom, such as a lack of computer devices, integration into the curriculum or the teachers are not sufficiently trained. Despite this, the idea should not be abandoned: First, technology can bring mathematics closer to students regardless of their knowledge and age. Second, technology allows a real world context to be integrated into learning [18] . Third, many studies in education show that learning mathematics with technology can contribute to students' knowledge [19], [21]. Finally, technology enables visualization and mathematical modeling. 2. Real world problems in the mathematical classroom In this paper, we discuss the "reality" of classroom mathematics and provide examples how mathematics can be connected to primary school students' world. Also, we propose solutions to make m

FAQs

How does the paper connect technology with elementary mathematical education?

It argues that technology helps present mathematical content in ways tied to real life, supports deeper understanding of concepts, and enables visualization and mathematical modeling. It also highlights practical classroom integration challenges.

What is “realistic mathematics” in the paper’s framework?

Realistic mathematics education teaches students to acquire mathematical concepts through understandable, context-rich problems. It moves learners from informal and visual experiences to formal mathematical language.

Why does the paper use Geogebra, and what classroom aspects does it focus on?

Geogebra is used to analyze classroom examples that clarify the link between learned mathematics and real-world situations. The paper emphasizes processes such as exploring, explaining, reflecting, and recording while solving real world problems.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky