Solving students' learning difficulty in circles using the van Hiele-oriented learning instructions and Geometer's Sketchpad

Abstract

The aim of this research is to design and develop specific learning instructions called Geometer's Sketchpad Learning Instructions in Circles (or GSPLI-C) specifically to overcoming students' difficulty in learning Circles. The research was carried out in two stages. Stage 1 involved five cyclic phases namely analysis of useful information, design of GSPLI-C, development of GSPLI-C, implementation of GSPLI-C and formative evaluation of its purpose. It capitalized Geometer's Sketchpad to incorporate visualisation-oriented learning activities with the first three van Hiele levels of geometry thinking, namely Recognition, Analysis and Informal Deduction. An evaluation study was conducted in Stage 2 using a single group design method. The samples were 30 students of mixed mathematical ability. A series of analyses of the levels of learning difficulty in Circles were performed involving comparative analysis of test scores, paired-sample t-test and graphical plot of individual test scores before and after the use of GSPLI-C. The analyses conducted in Stage 2 suggested that the use of GSPLI-C has indicated a marked improvement in test scores among the students. The results also showed that GSPLI-C has helped students to overcome their learning difficulties in Circles, mainly from severe level to moderate or no difficulty levels.