This study investigated the use of an advanced technological development (free GeoGebra software) within the secondary educational setting in four relatively under-resourced schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. This advancement is viewed as having the potential to promote the teaching and learning of complex ideas in mathematics, even within traditionally deprived communities. The focus in this study was on the teaching and learning of transformation geometry at Grade 9 and attainment was reflected in terms of the van Hieles' levels of geometrical thinking. A mixed methods approach was followed, where data was collected through lesson observations, written tests and semi-structured interviews. Four Grade 9 teachers from four schools were purposively selected, while twenty-four mathematics learners (six from each school) in the Tshwane metropolitan region were randomly selected. The teachers' lesson observations and interview outcomes were coded and categorised into themes, and the learners' test scripts were marked and captured. The analysis of test scores was structured according to the van Hieles' levels of geometric thought development. As far as the use of GeoGebra is concerned, it was found that teachers used the program in preparation for, as well as during lessons; learners who had access to computers or android technology, used GeoGebra to help them with practice and exercises. As far as the effect of the use of GeoGebra is concerned, improved performance in transformation geometry was demonstrated. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / MEd / Unrestricted

The purpose with this research paper is to examine the students’ shown knowledge in geometry, with a focus on construction and its concepts, and the educational value and teaching the students got in this area. The students’ homes are used as a starting-point. The students shall, from a self-made drawing of their home and a photograph of it, describe what their home looks like. In this paper, the mathematical concepts the students used will be analyzed and compared with the education they received. The analytical framework is based on Van Hieles levels of knowledge and Blooms Taxonomy. The study was done at a Secondary School in Kenya. Four students were selected and interviewed. The lesson observations were made with the purpose to get an understanding for how the education for these students look like and to get examples on how the teaching is conducted for these students. Finally, interviews with the teachers were carried out. The students show a good knowledge in the national exams. However, the study shows that when the students are supposed to use this particular knowledge outside of the classroom, the students experience difficulties. Mostly, the students encounter problems when they are supposed to estimate measurements. Furthermore, they lack the ability to compare scales. The research also shows that the education for these students is monotone and much time during the lessons is spend either with a teacher lecturing in front of the board or students working with examples in the textbook. According to the Variation Theory, the knowledge of the students should deepen if the objects of learning are varying. This variation is not something the students receive in the present situation. / Syftet är att undersöka några gymnasieelevers visade kunskaper i geometri med fokus på konstruktion och begreppsanvändning samt den undervisning som erbjuds eleverna inom området. Elevernas hem används som utgångspunkt. Eleverna ska utifrån en teckning, som de själva ritat, och ett fotografi beskriva hemmet. De matematiska begrepp som eleverna använder analyseras. Analysverktyget bygger på van Hieles kvalitativa kunskapsnivåer och Blooms Taxonomi. Undersökningen genomfördes på en gymnasieskola i Kenya. Fyra utvalda elever intervjuades. Lektionsobservationer genomfördes i syfte att få förståelse för hur elevernas undervisningssituation ser ut och få exempel på hur undervisningen bedrivs. Slutligen intervjuades två av elevernas lärare. Eleverna har goda kunskaper på nationella prov men undersökningen visar att när dessa kunskaper skall överföras till något utanför lektionssalen stöter eleverna på problem. De har svårt att uppskatta längdenheter och svårt att jämföra skala. Det kommer också fram att deras undervisning är ganska monoton. Mycket tid läggs till att läraren undervisar eleverna framme vid tavlan eller att eleverna jobbar med uppgifter i sin övningsbok. Enligt variationsteorin, som beskrivs i arbetet, skulle elevernas kunskaper ges möjlighet att fördjupas om de geometriska objekt som skall förstås varieras. Denna variation erbjuds inte eleverna i nuläget.

In this article, based on Dissection-Motion-Operations, DMO (decomposing a figure into several pieces and composing the resulting pieces into a new figure of equal area), a set of visual representations (models) of mathematical concepts will be introduced. The visual models are producible through manipulation and computer GSP/Cabri software. They are based on the van Hiele’s Levels (van Hiele, 1989) of Thought Development; in particular, Level 2 (Informal Deductive Reasoning) and level 3 (Deductive Reasoning). The basic theme for these models has been visual learning and understanding through manipulatives and computer representations of mathematical concepts vs. rote learning and memorization. The three geometric transformations or motions: Translation, Rotation, Reflection and their possible combinations were used; they are illustrated in several texts. As well, a set of three commonly used dissections or decompositions (Eves, 1972) of objects was utilized.

In this article, based on Dissection-Motion-Operations, DMO (decomposing a figure into several pieces and composing the resulting pieces into a new figure of equal area), a set of visual representations (models) of mathematical concepts will be introduced. The visual models are producible through manipulation and computer GSP/Cabri software. They are based on the van Hiele’s Levels (van Hiele, 1989) of Thought Development; in particular, Level 2 (Informal Deductive Reasoning) and level 3 (Deductive Reasoning). The basic theme for these models has been visual learning and understanding through manipulatives and computer representations of mathematical concepts vs. rote learning and memorization. The three geometric transformations or motions: Translation, Rotation, Reflection and their possible combinations were used; they are illustrated in several texts. As well, a set of three commonly used dissections or decompositions (Eves, 1972) of objects was utilized.