Examining the effect of the computer algebra systems on teaching function concept of the 9th grades' mathematics lesson

The purpose of this paper is to determine how utilizing the dynamic geometry software in teaching functions subject of the 9th grades? mathematics lesson affects their academic achievement in functions, their attitudes towards mathematics and their attitudes towards functions. The study took place in 2011-2012 academic (educational) years on sixty-eight 9th grade students studying at a public high school located in Mengen, Bolu. In the study, pretest ? posttest control group experimental research model was used. While one of the 9th grades was determined as the experimental group, the other one was identified as the control group. There were 34 students in each experimental group and control group. The lessons were carried out with computer assisted teaching approach by using dynamic geometry software GeoGebra on experimental group and with activity-based teaching method on control group as involved in the curriculum. In the study, ?Mathematics Readiness Test?, ?Functions Achievement Test?, ?Mathematics Attitude Scale?, ?Structured İnterview Forms? and ?Functions Attitude Scale? were used as data collection device. ?Mathematics Readiness Test?, ?Functions Achievement Test? and ?Structured İnterview Forms? were developed by the researcher. The qualitative data was analysed through a statistic program. As a result of the data obtained through the research, at the end of the teaching process in which GeoGebra is used, it has been seen that there isn?t any statistically significant difference between the experimental and control group students? level of success in functions, attitudes towards mathematics and attitudes towards functions. However, the experimental group students' achievement test scores and attitude scores were higher than the control group students. It is considered that the results gathered from the research shall contribute in the studies to be carried out on the use of GeoGebra in geometry teaching.