ERIC Number: EJ822521
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jan
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1954
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Cognitive Styles, Dynamic Geometry and Measurement Performance
Pitta-Pantazi, Demetra; Christou, Constantinos
Educational Studies in Mathematics, v70 n1 p5-26 Jan 2009
This paper reports the outcomes of an empirical study undertaken to investigate the effect of students' cognitive styles on achievement in measurement tasks in a dynamic geometry learning environment, and to explore the ability of dynamic geometry learning in accommodating different cognitive styles and enhancing students' learning. A total of 49 6th grade students were tested using the VICS and the extended CSA-WA tests (Peterson, "Verbal imagery cognitive styles and extended cognitive style analysis-wholistic analytic test--Administration guide". New Zealand: Peterson, 2005) for cognitive styles. The same students were also administered a pre-test and a post-test involving 20 measurement tasks. All students were taught a unit in measurement (area of triangles and parallelograms) with the use of dynamic geometry, after a pre-test. As expected, the dynamic geometry software seems to accommodate different cognitive styles and enhances students' learning. However, contrary to expectations, verbalisers and wholist/verbalisers gained more in their measurement achievement in the environment of dynamic geometry than students who had a tendency towards other cognitive styles. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the measurement tasks administered to the students.
Descriptors: Cognitive Style, Grade 6, Geometry, Educational Environment, Pretests Posttests, Cognitive Measurement, Computer Software
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A