izvorni znanstveni rad
The use of mental geometry in the development of geometric rotation concept
Sažetak
One of the most important roles of education is to improve the ability to solve real-life problems. Since a rigid transformation of rotation is one such example in a number of geological situations where structural lines and planes have been rotated from some initial spatial orientation, the notion of rotation takes an important place in the education of geologists. The paper presents the author’s teaching experience in developing the concept of rotation as one of the basic geometry concepts within two undergraduate geometry courses in the field of technical sciences at the University of Zagreb. Combining the principles of classical geometrical representation methods supported by new media, both courses extensively tend to use mental geometry to help students solve many geometry problems that arise from field observations. The aim of the paper is twofold. On the one hand, it presents typical problems that teachers encounter in the teaching of geometry, along with some concrete examples that suggest how problems can be successfully solved by following the latest methodological achievements in modern geometry education supported by mental geometry. On the other hand, the author intends to draw attention to difficulties in the teaching of some simple geometry concepts that are possibly caused by lack of operational knowledge of geometry of students in the field of technical sciences in Croatia.
Ključne riječi
teaching geometry, mental geometry, spatial geometry, rotation, conceptual knowledge