The effect of geometry instruction with dynamic geometry software; GeoGebra on Van Hiele geometry understanding levels of students

Tamer Kutluca

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dynamic geometry software GeoGebra on Van Hiele geometry understanding level of students at 11th grade geometry course. The study was conducted with pre and posttest control group quasi-experimental method. The sample of the study was 42 eleventh grade students studying in the spring term of 2011 to 2012 educational year. “Van Hiele Level of Geometric Understanding Test” developed by Usiskin (1982) and translated into Turkish by Duatepe (2001) was used as the data collecting tool of this study. Van Hiele Level of Geometric Understanding Test has 25 items. This result can be explained by the computer assisted instructional method applied in the experimental group and the learning environment provided by the dynamic geometry software GeoGebra. As a matter of fact, unlike the students in the control group, the students in the experimental group had the opportunity of moving given shapes or creating their own geometric shapes, trying different things on the shapes, testing and constructing their own knowledge. In addition, thanks to the activities in the learning environment, the students in the experimental group also had opportunity to participate actively to the instructional process, to share ideas comfortably, to discuss about the obtained results with friends and to construct their own knowledge.

Relevant Publications in Global Educational Journal of Science and Technology