The effect of utilizing the dynamic geometry software on 6th grade elemantary school students, their academic standings on mathematics lesson and their spatial ability

The purpose of this paper is to determine how utilizing the three dimensional dynamic geometry software in teaching geometry and assessment learning domains of Prisms unit of the 6th grades? mathematics lesson effects their academic achievement and their spatial ability.The study took place in 2011-2012 academic (educational) years on thirty-four 6th grade students studying at a public elementary school located in Akyurt, Ankara. In the study, pretest ? posttest control group experimental research model was used. While one of the 6th grades was determined as the experimental group, the other one was identified as the control group. There were 17 students in each experimental group and control group.The lessons were carried out with computer assisted teaching approach by using dynamic geometry software Cabri 3D on experimental group and with activity-based teaching method on control group as involved in the curriculum. In the study, ?Multiple Choice Achievement Test on Prisms?, ?Open-Ended Problems?, ?Structured İnterview Forms? and ?Spatial Ability Test? were used as data collection device. ?Multiple Choice Achievement Test on Prisms?, ?Open-Ended Problems?, ?Structured İnterview Forms? were developed by the researcher and ?Spatial Ability Test? was already available. The qualitative data was analysed through a statistic program.As a result of the data obtained through the research, it is determined that using Cabri 3D makes a statistically significant difference in favour of the experimental group in terms of success in mathematics. At the end of the teaching process in which Cabri 3D is used, it has been seen that there isn?t any statistically significant difference between the experimental and control group students? level of spatial ability.It is considered that the results gathered from the research shall contribute in the studies to be carried out on the use of Cabri 3D in geometry teaching.Key Words : Cabri 3D, Academic Achievement, Spatial Ability