European Journal of Contemporary Education

72=80

Authors: Slaviša RADOVIĆ

Social development, the progress of technology, and changing economic forces certainly affect the development of the current educational system. One of the main problems of today’s school system is how to maintain focus, concentration, and interest among students with regards to the learning that takes place during classes. An important feature of modern teaching is multimedia. However, the use of multimedia requires a certain transformation in the teaching process. Given the fact that the focus of the teaching process has been shifting away from the curriculum and the teacher, and towards the student, multimedia will undoubtedly contribute in a significant way to the modernization of traditional teaching. It is not unrealistic to think that technology will become a regular part of the daily routines of teaching. In this work, an innovative approach to teaching mathematics in elementary and high schools through the use of the software known as GeoGebra is introduced. This approach is demonstrated using the example of ‘surface area’ as a mathematical concept, wherein the goal was to increase interactivity between teachers and students, and to improve the quality of teaching.

88-99

Authors: Muharrem AKTÜMEN, Tuğba HORZUM, Tuba CEYLAN

This study describes the mathematical construction of a real-life model by means of parametric equations, as well as the two- and three-dimensional visualization of the model using the software GeoGebra. The model was initially considered as “determining the parametric equation of the curve formed on a plane by the point of a pen, positioned on an obstacle of height h, during the process of raising the pen vertically to the surface by linearly moving its back-end on the surface.” Firstly a solution was sought for this problem in two dimensions. Based on this problem, two additional sub-problems were formed on a plane, and parametric equations were calculated for these sub-problems as well. The curves formed by these parametric equations were then visualized using GeoGebra. In the second stage, the model was improved, and the parametric equation of the curve formed in the space by the pen point as a result of moving the pen’s back-end along any function was determined. The curve formed by this parametric equation was also visualized using the GeoGebra 3-D environment. It is expected that determining mathematical concepts and relationships based on real-life models with these types of training tasks, as well as jointly considering the algebraic and geometric representations during the process, will improve the students' perceptions relating to mathematics.

117-128

Authors: Jill LAZARUS, Geoffrey ROULET

This article discusses the integration of student-generated GeoGebra applets and Jing screencast videos to create a YouTube-like medium for sharing in mathematics. The value of combining dynamic mathematics software and screencast videos for facilitating communication and representations in a digital era is demonstrated herein. We share our experience with using these tools to facilitate mathematical collaboration, focusing specifically on the power of GeoGebra for student expression and creativity.