Assessing Pre-Service Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Attitude Towards Geometer's Sketchpad

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess pre-service secondary mathematics teachers' attitude towards Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) following an introductory GSP workshop. GSP is a dynamic geometry software program used for constructing and investigating mathematical objects. It is a dynamic tool for construction, demonstration and exploration of mathematical objects, adding a powerful dimension to the study of geometry and many other areas of mathematics. A total of 107 pre-service secondary mathematics teachers who attended a mathematics teaching methods course in a local public university participated in the GSP workshop. None of the participants had any prior experience using GSP. Analysis of their responses to the "Geometer's Sketchpad Attitude Scales" indicated that the pre-service secondary mathematics teachers showed a positive attitude towards GSP is more appropriate because the ''Geometer's Sketchpad Attitude Scales'' was used to access the participants' attitude towards GSP. The results also indicated that there was no significant difference between male and female preservice secondary mathematics teachers in their overall attitude towards GSP is more appropriate because the ''Geometer's Sketchpad Attitude Scales'' was used to access the participants' attitude towards GSP. Implications of the study for conducting GSP workshops in mathematics teaching methods courses are discussed.

Kajian ini bertujuan menilai sikap guru-guru matematik sekolah menengah pra perkhidmatan terhadap Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) selepas satu bengkel pengenalan GSP. GSP merupakan satu program perisian geometri dinamik yang digunakan untuk membina dan menyiasat objek-objek Matematik. Ia adalah satu alat dinamik bagi pembinaan, demonstrasi dan eksplorasi yang menambahkan satu dimensi yang kuat kepada pengajian geometri serta banyak bidang Matematik yang lain. Sejumlah 107 orang guru Matematik sekolah menengah pra perkhidmatan yang mengikuti satu kursus kaedah mengajar Matematik di sebuah universiti awam tempatan mengambil bahagian dalam bengkel GSP tersebut. Semua peserta tidak mempunyai pengalaman menggunakan GSP sebelum bengkel tersebut. Analisis respons mereka kepada "Skala Sikap Geometer's Sketchpad" menunjukkan bahawa guru-guru Matematik sekolah menengah pra perkhidmatan tersebut mempunyai sikap positif terhadap GSP. Dapatan kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa tidak terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan antara guru-guru Matematik sekolah menengah pra perkhidmatan lelaki dan perempuan dalam sikap terhadap GSP secara keseluruhan. Implikasi kajian bagi menjalankan bengkel GSP dalam kursus kaedah mengajar Matematik turut dibincangkan.