Comparative Studies of ICT Used in Mathematics Education in Japan and Other East Asian Countries

Abstract

This is a comparative study of the Japanese and East Asian use of information and communication technology (ICT) in mathematics education. In Japan, the concern with ICT has been growing for the last several years. The question we ask here is what should be done to use ICT more effectively in mathematics education. We investigated the mathematics textbooks used in East Asian countries. The investigation showed that in Singapore and Vietnam, function calculators are used effectively beginning in elementary school. Japanese textbooks have to be treated reality values. If students treat reality values they need to use a calculator. There is a possibility to expand applied mathematics in the field.