This survey on the theme of Geometry Education (including new technologies) focuses chiefly on the time span since 2008. Based on our review of the research literature published during this time span (in refereed journal articles, conference proceedings and edited books), we have jointly identified seven major threads of contributions that span from the early years of learning (pre-school and primary school) through to post-compulsory education and to the issue of mathematics teacher education for geometry. These threads are as follows: developments and trends in the use of theories; advances in the understanding of visuo spatial reasoning; the use and role of diagrams and gestures; advances in the understanding of the role of digital technologies; advances in the understanding of the teaching and learning of definitions; advances in the understanding of the teaching and learning of the proving process; and, moving beyond traditional Euclidean approaches. Within each theme, we identify relevant research and also offer commentary on future directions.
This paper gives a broad descriptive account of some activities that the author has designed using Sketchpad to develop teachers' understanding of other functions of proof than just the traditional function of 'verification'. These other functions of proof illustrated here are those of explanation, discovery and systematization (in the context of defining and classifying some quadrilaterals). A solid theoretical rationale is provided for dealing with these other functions in teaching by analysing actual mathematical practice where verification is not always the most important function. The activities are designed according to the so-called 'reconstructive' approach, and are structured more or less in accordance with the Van Hiele theory of learning geometry.
This is a summary report of the ICME-13 survey on the theme of recent research in geometry education. Based on an analysis of the research literature published since 2008, the survey focuses on seven major research threads. These are the use of theories in geometry education research, the nature of visuospatial reasoning, the role of diagrams and gestures, the role of digital technologies, the teaching and learning of definitions, the teaching and learning of the proving process, and moves beyond traditional Euclidean approaches. Within each theme, there is commentary on promising future directions for research.
This article provides an illustration of the explanatory and discovery functions of proof with an original geometric conjecture made by a Grade 11 student. After logically explaining (proving) the result geometrically and algebraically, the result is generalised to other polygons by further reflection on the proof(s). Different proofs are given, each giving different insights that lead to further generalisations. The underlying heuristic reasoning is carefully described in order to provide an exemplar for designing learning trajectories to engage students with these functions of proof.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.