South African learners continue to perform poorly in high school Circle Geometry. Lack of learner confidence and motivation in Mathematics may be the contributing factors to the low success rate in Circle Geometry. These factors, coupled with Conventional Teaching Instructions (CTI), may have contributed to the significant reduction in the number of learners enrolled for Mathematics, and provided a rationale for the study that explored a possible alternative teaching pedagogy to motivate and eventually improve learner performance in Circle Geometry. The study aimed to investigate the comparative effects of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) and CTI on the performance and motivation of Grade 11 learners in the topic of Circle Geometry. The population of the study consisted of Grade 11 Mathematics learners from 65 secondary schools in the Ekurhuleni North District of Gauteng province in South Africa. Using convenience sampling techniques two schools with n=136 Grade 11 Mathematics learners and two teachers participated in the study. One school formed the experimental group (n=71) and the other school formed the control group (n=65). The study followed a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group approach consisting of pre-and post-test measures. Intact classes participated in the study as it was not possible to randomly select participants for the study. Both groups wrote a standardised achievement pre-test to ascertain their performance status at the beginning of the study. CAI was implemented in the experimental school while CTI was implemented in the control school. A similar post-test was administered on both groups to measure the comparative effects of each teaching method on the performance of learners. A questionnaire was also administered to both groups to measure the motivation of learners. A purposive sample (n=12) was selected from both groups to participate in semi-structured interviews to account for the results of the test and the questionnaire. A socio-constructivist theory framed the study. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyse data. The results of this investigation indicated that the use of the computer software, GeoGebra, in the teaching and learning of Circle Geometry improved the performance and motivation of Grade 11 learners. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Management, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / The emphasis of geometry is of such significance that the current National Curriculum Statement has included the learning of two-and three-dimensional shape from grade R. However it is observed that teachers rely on textbooks for their knowledge of a dynamic topic such as nets of solids. Learners do not have an opportunity to explore the different orientations of solid shapes. Not many teachers use technology to assist their pedagogy. Quality processes in mathematics education emphasise the use of technology in teaching and learning. A study was performed using “Poly”, which is free open-source software for mathematics teaching and learning. This software was chosen because it was an easy to use application. It was able to show the different orientations of the solid shapes. Three-dimensional geometry can be explored using this software. The research is based on a social constructivist view of learning and the methodology used is a case study. The Piagetian and van Hiele stages of development will be the basis of the researcher’s investigation. Piaget’s theory is based on age development whilst van Hiele alludes to the different stages of geometrical development. A control group was compared to the experimental group consisting of 20 learners each. The research was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal and involved a teacher with a class of 40 learners. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and were analysed. The data consisted of classroom observations and learner questionnaires and interviews. The findings of this study affirm that the use of technology in the teaching of geometry can enhance conceptual understanding. Classroom management breaks from routine while using Poly. Poly has the potential to improve learners' educational experiences; it can enable the effective application of constructive, cognitive and collaborative models of learning. Poly is not just a mathematical tool but also a tool for thinking and helping to enhance learners’ learning. It can serve as a vehicle for helping learners to foster fundamental geometrical concepts. The assessment of the use of computers in mathematics by the learners of the experimental classes indicates that application of computers enables increasing the interest of the learners in mathematics and introduces more variety to the studies, making them more enjoyable and interesting. / National Research Foundation

South African learners continue to perform poorly in high school Circle Geometry. Lack of learner confidence and motivation in Mathematics may be the contributing factors to the low success rate in Circle Geometry. These factors, coupled with Conventional Teaching Instructions (CTI), may have contributed to the significant reduction in the number of learners enrolled for Mathematics, and provided a rationale for the study that explored a possible alternative teaching pedagogy to motivate and eventually improve learner performance in Circle Geometry. The study aimed to investigate the comparative effects of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) and CTI on the performance and motivation of Grade 11 learners in the topic of Circle Geometry. The population of the study consisted of Grade 11 Mathematics learners from 65 secondary schools in the Ekurhuleni North District of Gauteng province in South Africa. Using convenience sampling techniques two schools with n=136 Grade 11 Mathematics learners and two teachers participated in the study. One school formed the experimental group (n=71) and the other school formed the control group (n=65). The study followed a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group approach consisting of pre-and post-test measures. Intact classes participated in the study as it was not possible to randomly select participants for the study. Both groups wrote a standardised achievement pre-test to ascertain their performance status at the beginning of the study. CAI was implemented in the experimental school while CTI was implemented in the control school. A similar post-test was administered on both groups to measure the comparative effects of each teaching method on the performance of learners. A questionnaire was also administered to both groups to measure the motivation of learners. A purposive sample (n=12) was selected from both groups to participate in semi-structured interviews to account for the results of the test and the questionnaire. A socio-constructivist theory framed the study. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyse data. The results of this investigation indicated that the use of the computer software, GeoGebra, in the teaching and learning of Circle Geometry improved the performance and motivation of Grade 11 learners. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)