Mathematics teachers' views on geometry teaching through graphing calculators

Mathematics Teachers' Views on Geometry Teaching Through Graphing Calculators The purpose of this study is to develop graphing calculator-based materials for geometry teaching and to evaluate them through teachers' experiences in terms of their teachability and usability. At the first stage of this study, geometric activities were developed with TI-92 Graphing calculator to reflect the properties of dynamic geometry. At the second stage, these activities were introduced to 1 1 mathematics teachers during the in-service courses in the Trabzon and Bayburt. By using action research method the researcher as teacher observed the participants' performance during the course. The interviews with the teachers were carried out at the beginning and in the end of the course. In addition, the teachers were asked to write down their experiences and views about the course. The data were analysed by qualitative method to draw conclusions about teachers' views on the use graphing calculators in geometry teaching. The data showed that the teachers developed positive views about the use of graphing calculators in teaching geometry. Teachers found the materials introduced in the course applicable into current school system, and effective to help constructing students' knowledge. However, by considering the over burden curriculum and university entrance exam, the teachers indicated difficulties and coutraints in implementing the same approaches in the existing mathematics curriculum. To utilise the graphing calculator technologies in geometry teaching requires the introduction of this technology to the teachers and then the expectation of this technology from the teachers. Thus, the graphing calculator technologies should be introduced in pre or in-service courses. In addition, to use the graphing calculator and the related technologies in teaching mathematics effectively and widely require several fundamental changes involving curriculum and the University Entrance Examination. Key Words : Graphing Calculator, Dynamic Geometry, Teacher Education VI