Investigating the growth of vocational education students' spatial abilities in a technology supported environment

This study investigated the growth of vocational education students' spatial ability with respect to "Developments, Rotations and Views" in a technology-mediated environment in which Cabri 3D software used. The study consisted of two phases. In the first phase, 30 vocational education students' spatial abilities with respect to components mentioned above, were investigated. The purpose of this investigation was to identify students' visualization difficulties. Purdue Spatial Visualization Test and a written instrument developed by the researcher were used for this purpose. Additionally, an individual clinical interview was conducted. In the second phase of the study, eight students among 30 participants were chosen to form a classroom for the teaching episodes. For the purpose of this study four of these students selected as a focus group for further analysis. Through the end of the study the researcher administered the slightly changed written instrument and conducted individual clinical interviews with eight students. Then Purdue Spatial Visualisation Test is administered to these eight students as a final test again. The findings of the study showed that students had variety of spatial visualization difficulties. Specifically, students had difficulties in drawing 2D nets of 3D shapes and drawing views of 3D shapes from different viewpoints. Furthermore, findings showed that students had also difficulties in rotating 3D shapes in a given direction and angle mentally. Findings also showed that technology-mediated environment support students to overcome these difficulties. Specifically, the dynamic futures of Cabri 3D program, which provide both nets of 3D shapes and their views of different directions, helped students to notice their mistakes and detect them. Key Words: spatial skill, spatial visualisation skill, Cabri 3D geometry software,mathematics education, vocational education