ERIC Number: EJ905987
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0020-739X
EISSN: N/A
Characterizing Student Mathematics Teachers' Levels of Understanding in Spherical Geometry
Guven, Bulent; Baki, Adnan
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, v41 n8 p991-1013 2010
This article presents an exploratory study aimed at the identification of students' levels of understanding in spherical geometry as van Hiele did for Euclidean geometry. To do this, we developed and implemented a spherical geometry course for student mathematics teachers. Six structured, "task-based interviews" were held with eight student mathematics teachers at particular times through the course to determine the spherical geometry learning levels. After identifying the properties of spherical geometry levels, we developed "Understandings in Spherical Geometry Test" to test whether or not the levels form hierarchy, and 58 student mathematics teachers took the test. The outcomes seemed to support our theoretical perspective that there are some understanding levels in spherical geometry that progress through a hierarchical order as van Hiele levels in Euclidean geometry. (Contains 7 tables and 12 figures.)
Descriptors: Geometric Concepts, Mathematics Teachers, Geometry, Knowledge Level, Ability Identification, Achievement Tests, Teacher Competency Testing, Cognitive Measurement, Cognitive Processes, Interviews, Student Teachers, Vertical Organization
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A