"Yes, I got them all” – Special education students’ ability to solve ICT-based combinatorics problems

Abstract

This present study is aimed at revealing special education students’ mathematical potential by means of a dynamic ICT-based assessment. The topic of investigation is elementary combinatorics, which is generally not taught in primary special education. Six combinatorics problems on finding all possible combinations of a number of different types of clothing items were presented on screen. Data were collected on students’ performance in solving these items. The performances of students in regular education served as a reference. The total sample consisted of 84 students (8- to 13-year-olds) from special education and 76 students (7- to 11-year-olds) from regular education. Their mathematics ability ranged from halfway grade 2 to halfway grade 5. The results showed that special education students are able to solve combinatorics problems equally successful as regular education students. Special education students, Elementary combinatorics, Dynamic ICT-based assessment, Student performance.