Investigation of the Development of van Hiele Levels of Geometric Thinking in a Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) Environment

Yıl 2019, Cilt: 15 Sayı: 2, 473 - 490, 26.08.2019

Emre Özkan Diler Öner

https://doi.org/10.17860/mersinefd.522491

Cited By: 3

Öz

This
study investigated the use of a well-designed computer-supported collaborative learning
environment, namely Virtual Math Teams (VMT), to develop middle school students’
geometric thinking. It also looked into students’ VMT discourse to better
understand factors leading to higher van Hiele levels of geometric thinking.
The participants of the study were selected from middle school students who
were at the visual geometric thinking level. For treatment, students were
presented with a set of activities on quadrilaterals, which were developed
based on van Hiele’s phases of learning geometry, within the VMT environment.
The data were collected by using the van Hiele Geometry Test. The VMT chat logs
were qualitatively analyzed using the three-core collaborative problem-solving
competencies used in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
2015. The results showed that the participants significantly developed their van
Hiele Geometry Test scores after the intervention. Qualitative results pointed
out that collaborative competencies could be essential in developing students’
geometric thinking levels within the VMT environment. Considering that Turkish
students score lower than the international average in geometry and the lowest
in collaborative problem solving area in international assessments, it becomes even
more important to integrate CSCL environments into Turkish curricula.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Computer-supported collaborative learning, virtual math teams, van Hiele levels of geometric thinking, geometry learning, collaborative competencies

Bilgisayar Destekli İş Birliğiyle Öğrenme Ortamında van Hiele Geometrik Düşünme Seviyelerinin Gelişiminin İncelenmesi

Öz

This study investigated the use of a well-designed computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environment, namely Virtual Math Teams (VMT), to develop middle school students’ geometric thinking. It also looked into students’ VMT discourse to better understand factors leading to higher van Hiele levels of geometric thinking. The participants of the study were selected from middle school students who were at the visual geometric thinking level. For treatment, students were presented with a set of activities on quadrilaterals, which were developed based on van Hiele’s phases of learning geometry, within the VMT environment. The data were collected using the van Hiele Geometry Test. The VMT chat logs were qualitatively analyzed using the three-core collaborative problem-solving competencies used in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015. The results showed that the participants significantly developed their van Hiele Geometry Test scores after the intervention. Qualitative results pointed out that collaborative competencies could be essential in developing students’ geometric thinking levels within the VMT environment. Considering that in international assessments Turkish students score lower than the international average in geometry and the lowest in the collaborative problem-solving area, it becomes even more important to integrate CSCL environments into Turkish curricula.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bilgisayar destekli iş birliğiyle öğrenme, sanal matematik takımları, van Hiele geometrik düşünme seviyesi, geometri öğrenimi, iş birliği yeterlikleri

Kaynakça

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