The geometric thinking in Mathematics degree: an analysis in the light of Duval and Van-Hiele

Abstract

In this research, we analyze the geometric thinking of undergraduate mathematics students from a university in Pernambuco. We are based on Duval's Theory of Semiotic Representation Records (1995), which presents a theoretical model on cognitive functioning in the field of geometry and Van-Hiele's (1957) theory of geometric thought development, which indicates a model of levels of understanding of geometric concepts. Participated in the research thirty-four academics who had already studied Geometry-related subjects. These participants answered a question that addressed the concept of remarkable quadrilaterals. The results indicated that almost half of these participants acted in the perceptual apprehension of Duval (1995) and in the first level of Van-Hiele (1957), characterized by the identification of geometric figures in a plane or space through physical appearance. We conclude that the articulation between the theories of Duval (1995) and Van-Hiele (1957) enabled a better understanding of the students' geometric thinking.

Keywords

• duval
• van-hiele
• quadrilaterals
• geometric thinking