THE ICT IN THE TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS IN BASIC EDUCATION WITH A STEAM APPROACH

The study conducted at the Isla Santa Isabel Educational Unit in the Cotacachi canton, during the 2022-2023 school year, investigated the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), specifically Scratch and Arduino, on mathematics teaching for eighth-grade students in General Basic Education, using the STEAM methodology (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). The research emerged from the need to integrate innovative technological tools to improve teaching and learning in mathematics. The objective this research was to evaluate the impact of these technologies on mathematics teaching, identifying the perception of students and teachers regarding Scratch and Arduino, and analyzing academic performance. A mixed methodology was used, combining quantitative approaches (questionnaires, T-test, correlational analysis) and qualitative approaches (focus A field study was conducted with questionnaires for teachers and students, the design of didactic guides, and the collection of statistical data to examine academic performance. The results showed a significant improvement in students' academic performance in mathematics after implementing the technological strategies, as well as an increase in student participation and motivation. It is recommended that the integration of technologies such as Scratch and Arduino into traditional teaching under the STEAM methodology significantly improves the learning process. The use of these tools as educational innovation empowers teachers to raise the quality of mathematics teaching.