Augmented Reality (AR) flashcards have emerged as an important educational resource for language learning. However, there is limited research on its application in early childhood education. This article aims to explore the technology’s value in early childhood education by comparing it with traditional paper flashcards. To that end, a study was conducted in which 98 children, aged between 5 and 6 years, and four teachers, all from a Macau kindergarten, took part. One group of children had animal-related vocabulary using AR flashcards, while another group used traditional flashcards. To measure the effectiveness of the two approaches, the children underwent pre- and posttests on their vocabulary and the teachers were interviewed. For the data analysis, paired-sample t tests and independent-sample t tests were utilized, and the level of effect was measured. The results showed that both AR and traditional flashcards could significantly improve children’s vocabulary learning and that there was no significant difference in effectiveness between the AR and traditional flashcard methods. The teachers indicated that the children enjoyed the AR learning activities, but that there were certain challenges associated with using AR flashcards in a kindergarten setting.

Dynamic geometry software (DGS) aims to enhance mathematics education. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the quasi-experimental studies on the effectiveness of DGS-based instruction in improving students' mathematical achievement. Research articles published between 1990 and 2013 were identified from major databases according to a prespecified search strategy and selection criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted based on the random-effects model to evaluate the effectiveness of DGS-based instruction in terms of standardized mean differences (SMD) of achievement test scores as outcome measures. Nine quasi-experimental DGS studies with 587 participants were eligible. The overall effect size of DGS-based instruction on achievement scores (i.e., SMD) was distinctive (SMD, 1.02; 95% CI: 0.56-1.48) compared to traditional instruction. Subgroup analysis found some groups to have better effectiveness, for example, short-term instruction with DGS significantly improved the mathematical achievement of elementary school students.

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The study focuses on the integration of dynamic mathematics software (DMS) and cooperative learning into the teaching and learning process of inversely proportional functions. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of integrating DMS with cooperative learning on students’ mathematics achievement using quasi-experimental research design. Students in treatment group learnt inverse proportional functions in cooperative learning groups with DMS while those in control group had typical approach of instruction. Participants are all ninth-grade students in a Macau private school. They were given an achievement test at three stages, namely as pre-test, post-test and delayed post-test. Analysis of students’ results showed that the pedagogy of cooperative learning with DMS does have significant influence on students’ mathematics achievement.

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