The figure of geometry of elementary mathematics aims at teaching to students the concept of figure and space, improving their intuition and logic thought, and developing their aesthetic insight. In order to achieve these aims, students should learn n...
The figure of geometry of elementary mathematics aims at teaching to students the concept of figure and space, improving their intuition and logic thought, and developing their aesthetic insight. In order to achieve these aims, students should learn non-formal geometry, which deals with the feature of a figure or a relationship between figures by studying the shapes and spaces of figures, rather than formal deduction or mathematical proof. However, the traditional figure education is based on teacher-, language-, and deduction-oriented systems, and so students have no opportunity to freely investigate and handle figures. As students learn high-level mathematics, they tend to lose interest and self-confidence on that, and thus the necessity to improve such a situation is increasing. Geometers Sketchpad (GSP), which is a dynamic geometry software to help students study the features and relationship of figures, can be used as one of methods to improve figure learning.
The paper analyzes how the class of learning principles with GSP influences the understanding of congruence and self-directed learning attitude in the chapter of congruence, which is dealt with in the fifth grade of elementary school. In addition, it analyzes changes in the class of learning principles with GSP.
In order to solve these research questions, the research selected two classes in the fifth grade of S elementary school in Seoul. One of the two classes was analyzed as an experimental group and the other a comparative group. Students of the two classes learnt figures of 18 lessons for six weeks. For the experimental group, lessons applying the class of learning principles with GSP were performed. For the comparative group, the traditional mathematics based on the seventh mathematics curriculum and teacher's guidebook. Before and after the experiment was conducted, the two classes had a preliminary test and past test for the understanding of figure and self-directed learning attitude, respectively. In order to find whether there is a statistically meaningful difference in the understanding of congruence and self-directed learning attitude, two independent-samples t-tests were performed and analyzed. In addition, as a supplement for the quantitative analysis of the figure learning with GSP, changes in the process of figure learning were analyzed through activity books, which are results of the learning of students, GSP files, observation diaries of teachers, and self-reflection diaries.
The following are results analyzed according to research questions.
First, there is a meaningful difference in the understanding of congruence between the experimental group to which mathematics adopting the learning of figure with GSP was taught and the comparative group to which the traditional mathematics was taught. The change indicates that the class of learning principles with GSP positively influences the understanding of congruence. The result that analyzed concept and feature understandings, which are sub-elements in the understanding of congruent, shows a meaningful difference, but the result that analyzed differences in terms of an ability of drawing figures does not.
Second, there is no change in self-directed learning attitudes of the two groups. The result that performed two independent-sample t-tests for the sub-elements of self-directed learning attitude in the experimental group does not show any meaningful difference in the openness of learning opportunity and attachment to learning, but shows a meaningful difference in the leading attitude for learning and technique to solve questions. This indicates that the class of learning principles with GSP influences a leading attitude for learning and a technique to solve questions, which are sub-elements in self-directed learning attitude.
Third, this research finds that through the cases of the inquiry learning showing in the class process to learn principles with GSP, the inquiry learning allows students to expand their understanding of the concept and feature of a figure but that it does not influence the improvement of the drawing ability of students due to the functional limits of the software. Moreover, it was examined that the class of learning principles with GSP is effective in students' leading attitudes and their skill to solve problems, which are sub-elements in the self-directed learning attitude.
In conclusion, in the learning of congruence in the fifth grade of elementary school, the class of learning principles with GSP is effective in the improvement of student's understanding on figures compared to the traditional class, which is usually conducted with the explanation of a teacher. Also, the class with GSP allows students to actively participate in the learning of figures, positively affecting the improvement of their skill to solve figure questions.
However, the study was conducted on only two classes of the elementary school's 5th grade and for a short period of time, so the effect, identified herein, has a limit in generalization, necessitating extensive follow-on ones based on grades, regions and realms. In addition, research of using GSP related to elementary school should be activated and research of connecting GSP with the curriculum of elementary school should be conducted. Besides, information for the development of inquiry softwares should be shared, and an environment to actively develop such a software should be prepared. It is judged that the governmental should support research on the development and distribution of learning materials and softwares using computer and teacher training.