three-dimensional manipulatives for undergraduate geometry.docVIP

Three-dimensional manipulatives for undergraduate geometry classes Donna A. Dietz Mansfield University ddietz@ /ddietz Presented on March 27, 2004 at East Stroudsburg University, at the Annual SSHE-MA Conference ______________________________________________________________________ Abstract This article will cover the use of some basic three-dimensional manipulatives, such as balloons and paper polyhedra, which can enhance undergraduate exploration of non-euclidean geometry. Students intuition of non-euclidean spaces is strengthened, and their enjoyment of the subject is augmented by teamwork in a laboratory-style setting. Copies of sample laboratories and manipulatives are available through the authors website or by email from the author. ______________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction Students in my Spring 2004 undergraduate geometry course, Modern Geometry I, were having trouble absorbing geometric concepts in a traditionally-styled lecture. Most of these students were math or computer science majors who had taken calculus, and many of them were also secondary education majors. The first examination results demonstrated a lack of learning and a discussion with the students revealed a deepening dislike for the subject area, so I decided to take a more hands-on approach for teaching this course and started giving them group work in the form of laboratories relying heavily on three-dimensional manipulatives. The second examination results and the students feedback both indicated that this approach was much more effective at cultivating both enjoyment of and deeper understanding of the subject matter. The sections which follow summarize the various laboratories which were completed by the students. I highly recommend experimenting with the laboratories in addition to or in lieu of reading this document for those interested in learning more about non-euclidean geometry. This document is intended for those interest