مستويات التفكير الهندسي في القطوع المخروطية لدى طلبة قسم الرياضيات في جامعة الزيتونة الأردنية

Abstract EN

This study aimed at revealing the levels of geometric thought regarding conic sections among mathematics majors at A1-Zaytoonah Private University.

The study also sought to investigate the differences in students' performance on a test in geometric thought according to three factors: the student's year of study, the varying geometnc concepts and the differences in the level of geometric thought.

The study's sample consisted of 203 students (ranging from freshmen to senior year) in the mathematics department at Al- Zaytoonah Private University.

For the purpose of this study a test was designed that covered three concepts of conic sections: hyperbola, ellipse and parabola.

This test was made to measure the four levels of geometric thought that were outlined by Van Hiele: cognition, analytic, ordering and deductive.

The findings revealed a significant difference in students' performance that can be traced to the student's year of study.

This difference indicated a high level of performance in fourth year students when compared to less advanced students.

The performance of third year students was better than that of first year or second year students.

The study also indicated significant differences resulting from the varying geometric concepts.

Students performed better in the concept of parabola than in ellipse and hyperbola.

Finally, the findings showed that students performed better in the items that covered more basic levels of geometric thought than they did in the more advanced levels.

The study recommended the development of an approach to teaching geometry that was in line with Van Hiele's theory, keepmg in mind students' different levels of geometric thought.

The study also emphasized the need to give a bigger role to the Faculty of Educational Sciences in preparing mathematics teachers and not limiting this task to the Faculty of Science as is the case in Jordan