Understanding Students’ Perceptions to Improve Teaching of Mathematics
Carlos A. Rojas-Kramer, Arturo García-Santillán, ArturoCórdova-Rangel, Patricia Carmona-Fuentes, Roberto Rosas-Reyes

Abstract
This study applies the Galbraith and Haines (1998) scale to identify students’ attributes that are relevant where mathematics and computing interact. Hence, the aim of this work is tofind the structure of the underlying latent variables that would allow teachers to understand students’ perception of mathematics and computers. The study was carried out at the “Telebachillerato Los Volcanes” and the “Telebachillerato Las Bajadas” in Veracruz, México. A Telebachillerato is an educational approach based mostly on the television to disseminate the contents of the local curriculum of high-school level. The sample comprised 200 college students, and the statistical method was a factor analysis with an extracted principal component. The results give evidence to assert that mathematics confidence, mathematics motivation, computer confidence, computer motivation, computermathematics interaction, and mathematics engagement, help to understandhigh-school students’ attitudes toward mathematics and technology.

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