Kyle Pihl

SEC 444
Article Response
Article Response Teachers Scaffolding of Student Learning of Geometry While Using a Dynamic
Geometry Program

I chose to read and review this article for the purpose of seeing how teachers were able to incorporate
one of my favorite programs, Geometers Sketchpad (GSP), in a classroom. The trial involved students
in schools where every student was provided a laptop. GSP is fantastic in that it allows you to easily
construct and manipulate different geometric figures. It should be noted that construction is not the
same as drawing. Construction is a specific process that, through only a compass and a straightedge
generates geometric figures that are exactly what you claim they are, i.e. proves it. Therefore, these
teachers were presented with a wonderful opportunity to set their students loose on learning.
First and foremost, the usage of the word probed prior to the word student should just stop. There
are other, much better descriptors for information seeking that we as academics can use. No less than
three times throughout the article I did a complete double take at terrible word pairing.
As far as quotes go, the one that stood out to me was actually a quote of a quote: I have always
been really structured, so giving away some of that for students to explore and discover has been
difficult (p672-674)
This is a quote of one of the teachers involved in the trial program. With this in mind, I neither agree
nor disagree with it, though I believe in allowing students to explore the material. I would say that when
I teach, I try to allow my students as much freedom as possible when experimenting with mathematics,
especially geometry. Mathematics is a content area that demands exploration, but often too many
people resort to lecture.
I am a little confused as the teacher is a 22 year veteran, so I would be curious to see her persona in a
class she is comfortable teaching in. I think that she might say she prefers structure, but actually allows
several degrees of freedom.
In my current practicum and other endeavors I frequently see issues with allowing students to explore
with technology. The reasons for this vary between school policy/resources and teacher preferences.
I think that there is a huge issue with a school where there are not laptops provided for students. I
worry about a schools ability to have software and technology needed to supply the demand for
education with intensive technology. We already have enough funding issues as is. I struggle with this
daily, and its hard for me to envision how I will teach in the future without knowing my students or the
setting.

Anthony Dove & Karen Hollenbrands (2014) Teachers scaffolding of
students learning of geometry while using a dynamic geometry program, International
Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 45:5, 668-681, DOI:
10.1080/0020739X.2013.868540