Development and evaluation of a mobile application for treating dyscalculia in automotive mechanics technology students
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Abstract
Introduction: Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that hinders the understanding of mathematical concepts, affecting performance in technical disciplines such as automotive mechanics. This study focuses on the development and evaluation of the mobile application called DiscalcuDrive, designed to improve the learning of students with dyscalculia in the automotive technology program. Objective: Determine the effectiveness of the mobile application in improving academic performance and confidence in the mathematical skills of students with dyscalculia. Methodology: A quantitative study was conducted with automotive mechanics technology students who used DiscalcuDrive. Ease of use, improved understanding of concepts, increased confidence, knowledge retention, and willingness to recommend the application were evaluated. Results: The results showed that 80% of the students found the application easy to use. Ninety-four percent reported improvements in understanding mathematical concepts, and 88% experienced an increase in confidence when solving mathematical problems. In addition, 86% indicated that they were able to recall and apply the concepts learned, and 95% recommended the application to other students. Conclusion: DiscalcuDrive is an effective educational tool that improves the academic performance and mathematics confidence of students with dyscalculia. These findings suggest that the integration of mobile technologies in the teaching of technical disciplines can be beneficial for students with specific difficulties in mathematics. General area of study: Education. Specific area of study: Technical education in automotive mechanics. Study type: original.
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