Fostering spatial abilities of seventh graders through augmented reality environment in mathematics education: A design study


Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Matematik ve Fen Bilimleri Eğitimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2017

Öğrenci: BİLAL ÖZÇAKIR

Danışman: ERDİNÇ ÇAKIROĞLU

Özet:

In this study, design and development of an augmented reality learning toolkit for fostering spatial ability of seventh graders and their spatial understanding with this tool among different trials on mobile devices were reported. This study was conducted within two phases as preliminary and prototyping phases. The designed toolkit was evaluated, revised and redesigned throughout prototyping iterations with two mathematics education experts and two seventh grade students. Finally, possible contributions of intervention with this toolkit in terms of spatial ability and learning opportunities for seventh graders were investigated at the last prototyping iteration with eight seventh graders from various spatial ability levels. Findings guided characteristics for designing an augmented reality learning toolkit with set of spatial tasks for seventh grade students. Findings also showed that students found, used or adapt spatial strategies with this toolkit among continuum of holistic – analytic approaches in order to accomplish given tasks. In the light of these results, it can be inferred that students could perform and improve their spatial ability with this toolkit. Students did not encounter any technical difficulty with the last prototype of the toolkit, and they could use this toolkit, fluently. Therefore, this toolkit have showed practical usability in this study. To conclude, augmented reality seemed helpful in enhancing the usage mobile devices, for not only just reading books or playing games but also learning mathematics. Thus augmented reality toolkit in this study presented a new way to use mobile devices for students or teachers in learning and teaching mathematics.