The Role of Symbolab Calculator Usage to Enhance Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Conceptual Understanding in Trigonometry Through Community of Inquiry

This study investigated the role of Symbolab Calculator software usage in enhancing pre-service Science and Mathematics Education (SME) primary teachers’ conceptual understanding of trigonometry through community of inquiry. The research used a quasi-experimental design with control and experimental groups. Thus, purposive sampling techniques was used to select pre-service primary teachers in the option of Science and Mathematics Education (SME) taken from two schools randomly selected from Southern Province of Rwanda. Thus, the selected sample was 99 pre-service primary teachers from two classes of Year One. Besides, the interview guide was used with seven pre-service primary teachers to explore their perception towards Symbolab Calculator software. Qualitative data was analyzed analytically and thematically. To analyze quantitative data, a t-test statistical analysis tool was used to compare means of the two groups. Although the results from a t-test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the control and experimental groups (p>0.5), the treatment group made a significant increase in scores compared to the control group. In addition, the results from pre-service primary teachers’ conceptual understanding solutions analysis and those from pre-service primary teachers’ interviews, showed that using Symbolab Calculator helped to develop a collaborative skill and more understanding of trigonometry. It recommended the tutors to integrate a Symbolab Calculator software in their instructions for an effective teaching and learning mathematics. © (2024), (Elite Scientific Publications). All rights reserved.