The effect of geometers' sketchpad on the performance in geometry of Malaysian students' achievement and their van Hiele geometric thinking
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the effect of using Geometer's Sketchpad on performance in geometry achievement and the level of van Hiele geometric thought among Form Two students in one of the secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. The van Hiele Geometry Test was administered to determine their level of geometric thought according to van Hiele theory. This Quasi-experimental research was carried out in one of the secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 65 Form Two students from the school were chosen for this research. The treatment group (N=32) underwent the lessons using the Geometers' Sketchpad for ten weeks. At the same time the control group (N=33) was taught by the traditional approach. The questionnaire and checklist were administered to explore the students' response to wards to the use of Geometer's Sketchpad on learning of geometry. A descriptive analysis showed that most of the students agreed that the Geometer's Sketchpad is a useful tool for learning geometry. The findings of this study about the effects of Geometer's Sketchpad and van Hiele model will be useful to mathematics teachers, educators and those who are involved in the teaching of mathematics, particularly geometry in the planning of teaching activities for the classroom.
Keywords
Geometers' sketchpad, Geometry, Geometry achievement, Learning van Hiele geometric test, Level of geometric thinking, van Hiele theory
Divisions
Education
Publication Title
Malaysian Journal of Mathematical Sciences
Volume
1
Issue
2
Publisher
Institute for Mathematical Research (INSPEM), Universiti Putra Malaysia