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Children's inductive thinking during intrinsic and Euclidean Geometrical activities in a computer programming environment

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Abstract

This paper presents a case study investigating the knowledge constructed by two 12 year-old children working with a geometrical Logo microworld allowing the Logo turtle to measure distances, and turns relative to previously constructed points on the plane. A qualitative analysis of data consisting of everything that the children said, typed and wrote on paper during the 15 hours of the research, provided evidence of the children's developing use of concepts belonging to Plane Geometry. The measuring of angular and length quantities, enabled them to conjecture, reflect on and manipulate triangle properties and relations traditionally associated with Euclidean Geometry. Their developing awareness of the existence of geometrical relations in their work, encouraged an increase in their readiness to use and reflect on them. The paper concludes that the generation of learning environments such as the above may well enhance the opportunity for children to form inductive geometrical understandings.

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Kynigos, C. Children's inductive thinking during intrinsic and Euclidean Geometrical activities in a computer programming environment. Educ Stud Math 24, 177–197 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01273691

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