Effects
of Imagery Representations and Question Aids in Comprehension of
Geometry Text
M. Mitsuda |
Structual
models of geometry achievements were compared across age levels of
subjects. College and junior-highschool students read a geometry
text with figural illustrations on the computer screen. Then multiple
choice tests were administered on the same screen. Data for this
study was drawn from tests for imagery rotation, symmetry ideas,
analogy and tests for ability to induce the formulae for obtaining
the area of a triangle and that of a trapezoid by producing a parallelogram
from two symmetrical triangles or trapezoids. To see how students
monitored their own progress toward solution of geometry problems,
a rating scale for self-efficacy was inserted after each of those
geometry test questions. Correlational findings showed that for older
students, correct estimation for their own analogy performance was
related to correct ratings for their own success in inducing a formula
for obtaining the area of a trapezoid, while for younger ones, correct
rating for their own ability to mainipulate imagery predicted correct
rating for their understanding of the formula for obtaining the area
of a trapezoid. Results of path-analyses showed that for older subjects,
their correct estimation for understanding of the point symmetry
ideas has predicted correct ratings for their own success in inducing
the formula for obtaining areas of treapezoids and triangles. The
role of analogical transfer in geometry learning has been discussed.
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