EFFECTIVENESS OF DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS IN ENHANCING MATHEMATICS LEARNING FOR 5TH-GRADE STUDENTS: A MIXED-METHOD STUDY

Abstract

This paper examines optimization of digital learning programs to work with 5^th -grade students in Islamabad as a factor in enhancing learning in mathematics. Although digital tools in education are increasingly embraced, research on their effectiveness in developing countries such as Pakistan, especially in the primary level, is not robust. The study relies on both quantitative and qualitative methodologies; thus, a quantitative quasi-experimental study design is used with interviews analyzing teacher opinions. The experimental condition (that used digital applications) was significantly higher in post-test scores (M = 26.60, SD = 5.30) than the control condition (M = 21.60, SD = 5.10), and the mean difference on post-test scores was significant (12.09, p < .001). The teachers said that digital tools improved student engagement and understanding of concepts and problem-solving abilities. Nevertheless, the following issues were raised: poor teacher preparation, deficiencies of facilities and school curricula misfit. The connotation of the study is that mathematics learning can be extremely improved with the help of digital application when used with conventional teaching approaches. It will be recommended to train teachers, develop infrastructure, align curriculum and involve parents to maximize the benefits of the digital learning tools.