AN EXPLORATION OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF GEOMETRIC CONCEPTS

TitleAN EXPLORATION OF HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF GEOMETRIC CONCEPTS
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsNgirishi, H, Bansilal, S
JournalProblems of Education in the 21st Century
Volume77
Issue1
Start Page82-96
PaginationContinuous
Date PublishedFebruary/2019
Type of ArticleOriginal article
ISSN1822-7864
Other NumbersE-ISSN 2538-7111
Keywordsclass inclusion, geometry, high school, mathematical proof, necessary and sufficient conditions, van Hiele theory
Abstract

There is much concern in South Africa about the poor performance of learners in mathematics, particularly in geometry. The aim of this research was to explore the understanding of basic geometry concepts by grade 10 and grade 11 learners in terms of the van Hiele’s levels of geometry thinking. The participants of the research were 147 learners from three high schools in a rural area in the south of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The results showed that the learners had difficulties with problems involving definitions of geometric terms, interrelations of properties and shapes, class inclusion and changing semiotic representations. It was also found that most of the learners were operating at the visual and the analysis levels of the van Hiele levels of geometric thinking. It is recommended that teachers should provide learners with tasks that require movements between semiotic representations, and to also focus attention on improving learners’ skills in proving aspects of mathematical relations.

URLhttp://oaji.net/articles/2019/457-1550425157.pdf
DOI10.33225/pec/19.77.82
Refereed DesignationRefereed
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