How can technology help students learn high school geometry? : By
Anney Li
EDD 631 How can technology help students learn high school geometry?
School Environment : School Environment
Case Study Group : Case Study Group Grade 11 students
10 girls, 11 boys
47% White, 23% Asian, 20% African American, & 10% American Indian
Problems : High school juniors are unmotivated to learning geometry.
High school juniors are lack of basic geometry skills. Problems
Research Questions : Research Questions How can the use of graphing calculators, computers, and Smartboard help students learn high school
geometry?
Summary of Literature : Summary of Literature Students perform higher on state exams.
Students increase geometry concepts when using both a visual and verbal explanation.
Quotes : “Technology, when used appropriately, can improve students’ mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills.”
B. K. Waits (2007)
“Geometry is the science of correct reasoning on incorrect figures. ”
George Polya (1980) Quotes
Data Sources : Data Sources
Question 1: Will the use of graphing calculator, computer, and Geometer’s Sketchpad help students learn the basic geometry concepts? : Question 1: Will the use of graphing calculator, computer, and Geometer’s Sketchpad help students learn the basic geometry concepts? Use of graphing calculators had become the routine in the classroom.
Lessen the number of students coming late to class.
Use of the GSP in the class was undetermined.
Question #2: How can graphing calculator, computer, and Geometer’s Sketchpad motivate students learning geometry? : Question #2: How can graphing calculator, computer, and Geometer’s Sketchpad motivate students learning geometry? Showed increasing completion of homework assignment.
Showed more engagement and collaboration in the class work.
Limitation : Limitation The computers with the Geometer’s Sketchpad were not installed until 3 months later.
There were only 6 usable computers.
The computers were not allowed to be kept for more than 1 day.
Implications for Future Research : Implications for Future Research Encourage more math teachers to use graphing calculators in the classroom.
Find more technologies to help students learn geometry.
Install more computers with GSP.
Action Plan : Action Plan Share the findings with other math teachers.
Show the findings to the principle encouraging her to purchase more technologies.
Share the findings with the parents so they could be aware the importance of technologies use in their children’s learning.
References : Burger, E. B., Chard, J. D., Hall, E. J., Kennedy, P. A., Leinwand, S. J., Renfro, F. L., et al. (2008). Holt Geometry.
John O’Connor (2003). Topics in Geometry
http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/Quotations/Polya.html
Richard Phillips (2005, July 13). Problem Pictures Examples http://www.problempictures.co.uk/cal.htm References