Teaching Mathematics with Technology: Concept Formation in Geometry: A Computer-aided, Student-centered Activity
Robert J. Jensen · The Arithmetic Teacher · 1988
Computers are well suited for generating geometric figures of random size and shape. Children are able to form conceptual generalizations when given various examples and counterexamples of a particular class of objects. This month's department suggests one possible way to combine this technological facility of the computer with students' natural abilities for concept formation into a powerful learning tandem. Small groups of students will be asked to create a “family album” for a specific shape. In the process, students will first use a computer to generate random samples of this shape and to obtain measures of specific attributes for each figure. Then they will use a ruler and protractor to reproduce these examples for their albums. Finally, they will develop a list of properties for the shape they are investigating. In the construction of their own descriptions for a particular geometric shape, students will creatively engage in the doing of mathematics. The principal tools for this activity will be a computer, the Geometric preSupposer software, a metric ruler, and a protractor.