Preschool Students' Understanding of a Geometric Shape, the Square

Autores/as

  • Erdoğan Halat AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY
  • Ümmühan Yeşil Dağlı Yıldız Technical University

Palabras clave:

Teacher Education. Early Childhood Education.

Resumen

The purpose of this study was to explore preschool children's conceptual understanding of geometric shapes, the square in particular. There were a total of 115 children, 61 girls and 54 boys, from state preschool education programs, who participated in the study. The data were collected in two semesters through interviews in a one-on-one setting, where the researchers administered a paper-pencil test to the participants. The test included six questions. One question asked children to draw a square, one question asked to select the square among three other geometric shapes, three questions asked to differentiate the square among five to seven geometric shapes which were printed in rotated directions and in various fonts and sizes and one question asked to identify a picture of a square-like real life object among a selection of pictures. The findings showed that 65% of children were able to draw a square accurately, and 77% of children were able to identify a picture of a square-like object. Approximately 69% were able to differentiate three squares in different sizes among five geometric shapes, while 27% of the remaining were not able to identify the square in smaller sizes. Approximately 79% in one task and 56% in another task were unsuccessful in identifying squares in rotated directions. Moreover, there was no gender difference in the test between boys and girls. Findings were interpreted linking to Duval's theory, van Hiele's theory, Prototype theory and Simon's task design model.

Biografía del autor/a

Erdoğan Halat, AFYON KOCATEPE UNIVERSITY

Associate Professor Dr., PhD earned in Mathematics Education at Florida State University, Florida, USA. Currently working for the Department of Elementary Mathematics Education, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Address: Afyon Kocatepe University Egitim Fakultesi, Ahmet Necdet Sezer Kampusü Gazligöl Yolu, 03200, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. E-mail: ehalat@aku.edu.tr

Ümmühan Yeşil Dağlı, Yıldız Technical University

Associate Professor Dr., PhD earned in Early Childhood Education at Florida State University, Florida, USA. Currently working for the Department of Early Childhood Education, Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul, Turkey. Address: Yıldız Technical University, College of Education, Davutpaşa Campus, 34220 Esenler- İstanbul, Turkey. E-mail: uydagli@yildiz.edu.tr

Publicado

2016-06-06

Número

Sección

ARTIGOS