Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography.

Many authors have expressed concern regarding the extent of underachievement in mathematics. The role of language proficiency as a causal factor in this underachievement has been neglected. Researchers found sufficient evidence to conclude that language proficiency is related to mathematics achievement. In mathematics, symbolic language fills a dual role: It serves as an instrument of communication and as an instrument of thought by making the representation of mathematical concepts, structures and relationships possible (Esty & Teppo, 1996:45). According to Van Hiele (1988:5), language structure is a critical factor in the progression through the Van Hiele levels from the visual, concrete structures to the abstract structures. In this study, the influence of language proficiency on geometric thinking is investigated. 152 grade 8 and 9 learners completed two tests each. One test measured language proficiency in the learners' mother tongue. The second is a geometric test based on a Mayberry-type Van Hiele test for assessing learners' geometric thinking levels. Language proficiency was taken as the independent variable, and geometric thinking as the dependent variable. In the analysis of the results, the top 25 % and bottom 25% performers in the language proficiency test were chosen. Cohen's (1988) d-value was used to determine if there was a practical significant difference in the performance of the more proficient language learners and the less proficient language learners with respect to each of the first three Van Hiele levels. Results showed a practical significant difference between the performance of the more proficient language learners and the less proficient language learners with respect to each of the first three Van Hiele levels, but also with respect to the geometry test as a whole. In particular, two aspects of language proficiency, namely reading comprehension and vocabulary, appeared to be very strong predictors for geometric thinking on the first three Van Hiele levels (d ≥ 0,8). Key terms for indexing: geometry, geometry learning, mathematics learning, geometric thinking, language, language proficiency, geometry and language, mathematics and language. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Education)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Many authors have expressed concern regarding the extent of underachievement in mathematics. The role of language proficiency as a causal factor in this underachievement has been neglected. Researchers found sufficient evidence to conclude that language proficiency is related to mathematics achievement. In mathematics, symbolic language fills a dual role: It serves as an instrument of communication and as an instrument of thought by making the representation of mathematical concepts, structures and relationships possible (Esty & Teppo, 1996:45). According to Van Hiele (1988:5), language structure is a critical factor in the progression through the Van Hiele levels from the visual, concrete structures to the abstract structures. In this study, the influence of language proficiency on geometric thinking is investigated. 152 grade 8 and 9 learners completed two tests each. One test measured language proficiency in the learners' mother tongue. The second is a geometric test based on a Mayberry-type Van Hiele test for assessing learners' geometric thinking levels. Language proficiency was taken as the independent variable, and geometric thinking as the dependent variable. In the analysis of the results, the top 25 % and bottom 25% performers in the language proficiency test were chosen. Cohen's (1988) d-value was used to determine if there was a practical significant difference in the performance of the more proficient language learners and the less proficient language learners with respect to each of the first three Van Hiele levels. Results showed a practical significant difference between the performance of the more proficient language learners and the less proficient language learners with respect to each of the first three Van Hiele levels, but also with respect to the geometry test as a whole. In particular, two aspects of language proficiency, namely reading comprehension and vocabulary, appeared to be very strong predictors for geometric thinking on the first three Van Hiele levels (d ≥ 0,8). Key terms for indexing: geometry, geometry learning, mathematics learning, geometric thinking, language, language proficiency, geometry and language, mathematics and language. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Education)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-25T12:18:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jozeildo Jose da Silva.pdf: 1899979 bytes, checksum: 1ca1f7cba3df0db178cad43476390e57 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-24 / This dissertation aims to investigate the use of software Ruler and Compass as a methodological resource for teaching geometry. The study was on theoretical base the Van Hielle‟s Model, the Meaningful Learning Theory (AUSUBEL, 2003) and the Construcionist Theory (PAPERT, 1994) linked to studies on the Dynamic Geometry (ZULATTO, 2002; GRAVINA, 1996, Cowper, 1994). The research was based on the difficulty of identifying and exploiting these properties in geometric patterns observed in static printed material such as textbooks. The research universe was formed for two public schools and one of these schools the research was conducted with students and in other school the research was conducted with teachers. The research involved a multiple case study using participant observation was conducted in two stages. The target audience of the research was formed by students of the 7th year of elementary school and teachers math of public schools. The results of the research show that there is an enormous need regarding the teaching of geometry founded on the manipulation of geometric figures to explore their properties and elements. The research also revealed that from the use of the software Ruler and Compass students have become more interactive and that during use they were challenged to conjecture, validate hypothesis and verify properties present in geometric figures. The study allowed us to observe that most of the teachers participating in the research are considered prepared for the use of new technologies in teaching mathematics, but that the school needs to adapt to such developments. / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo investigar o uso do software Règua e compasso , como recurso metodológico para o ensino de Geometria. O estudo teve como base teórica o Modelo de Van Hielle, a Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa (AUSUBEL, 2003) e a Teoria Construcionista (PAPERT, 1994), atreladas aos estudos sobre a Geometria Dinâmica (ZULATTO, 2002; GRAVINA, 1996; COWPER, 1994). A pesquisa partiu da dificuldade de identificar e explorar as propriedades presentes em figuras geométricas estáticas, observadas em material impresso, como os livros didáticos. O universo da pesquisa foi constituído por duas escolas públicas. Em uma delas, a pesquisa foi realizada com alunos, e na outra, com professores, e englobou um estudo de caso múltiplo, com observação participante, realizada em duas etapas. Seu público alvo foi constituído por alunos do 7º ano do Ensino Fundamental e professores de Matemática de escolas públicas. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram que há uma grande necessidade, no que tange ao ensino de geometria, pautado na manipulação de figuras geométricas para exploração de suas propriedades e elementos. A pesquisa ainda revelou que, por meio do uso do software Règua e compasso , os alunos se tornaram mais interativos e foram desafiados a conjecturar, validar hipóteses e verificar propriedades presentes em figuras geométricas. O estudo permitiu observar que grande parte dos professores participantes da pesquisa se considera preparada para o uso de novas tecnologias no ensino de matemática, mas que a escola precisa se adequar a tais avanços.

Title: Construction of elementary pupils' geometric schemas via motivating learning environments Author: Jaroslava Kloboučková Department: Department of mathematics and mathematics education Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Darina Jirotková, Ph.D. Abstract: The aim of the dissertation is to discuss teaching geometry as integral part of mathematics education at the primary school level. The thesis also documents a longitudinal teaching study which was initiated in 2010 and which gives us a base for discussion of some fundamental questions regarding the process of learning geometry for pupils in their early school years. The main objective here is to attempt to answer the following four didactic questions: In which way do pupils learn about geometrical objects? How do they share their geometrical knowledge, experience and discoveries with one another? How much (at what level) are they able to understand mathematical concepts that the official curricular documents (the Czech Framework for Education Program) place in later years of schooling? What phenomena are they able to grasp and describe using their mother tongue? The theoretical framework focuses on the learning process and the typology of mathematical problems in geometry. Four specific engaging environments (Cube Buildings, Origami, Wooden Sticks, and Tiles) and...