To find what, when, and how teachers used technology tools and inquiry - based
teaching during the fall semester, we sent a survey at the end of the semester.
Two weeks after the preservice teachers designed and presented their modelactivities
during the sixth week of classes in the
fall semester, one student (to be named «Trent» hereafter) inquired about a set of TI - 83s to use withhis onsite, small group
teaching lesson, a requirement of the practicum course.Trent had been searching for ways to improve the test scores of these studentswhen he heard
during class that using the TI - 83s and StudyCards was one wayin which a teacher had reached her social studies students with special needs.These special needs students had grown - up with GameBoys and other handheldvideo games and were motivated to learn using the TI - 83 since it was a similartype of device.