ASSESSING PRE-SERVICE SECONDARY MATHEMATICS TEACHERS ATTITUDE TOWARDS GEOMETER S SKETCHPAD

The purpose of this study was to assess pre-service secondary mathematics teachers attitude towards Geometer s Sketchpad (GSP) following an introductory GSP workshop. GSP is a dynamic geometry software program used for constructing and investigating mathematical objects. It is a dynamic tool for construction, demonstration and exploration of mathematical objects, adding a powerful dimension to the study of geometry and many other areas of mathematics. A total of 107 pre-service secondary mathematics teachers who attended a mathematics teaching methods course in a local public university participated in the GSP workshop. None of the participants had any prior experience using GSP. Analysis of their responses to the Geometer s Sketchpad Attitude Scales indicated that the pre-service secondary mathematics teachers showed a positive attitude towards GSP is more appropriate because the Geometer s Sketchpad Attitude Scales was used to access the participants attitude towards GSP. The results also indicated that there was no significant difference between male and female pre-service secondary mathematics teachers in their overall attitude towards GSP is more appropriate because the Geometer s Sketchpad Attitude Scales was used to access the participants attitude towards GSP. Implications of the study for conducting GSP workshops in mathematics teaching methods courses are discussed.