RUME 14 (Volume 2)
2011
Portland, Oregon
EXPLORING THE VAN HIELE LEVELS OF PROSPECTIVE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS
Page: 473
This research project aimed to explore the van Hiele levels of undergraduate mathematics majors, most of whom were prospective mathematics teachers. The participants were taking a proof-intensive Euclidean geometry course that relied on technology, The Geometer’s Sketchpad (KCP Technologies, 2006), to help them make and prove conjectures. Data was collected from classes in consecutive years, the first with 21 participants, the second with 24 participants. Data collection included a pre- and a posttest of participants’ van Hiele levels. Data analysis suggests similar results for both sets of participants in that the course had greater influence on the van Hiele levels of female participants. Results also suggest that the van Hiele test instrument used for this study operated well with university students.