أثر استخدام استراتيجية تآلف الأشتات في التفكير الهندسي وحل المسائل لدى طالبات الصف الثاني المتوسط في مادة الرياضيات
This study aims at identifying the impact of using synaptic strategy on geometric thinking and problem solving for second intermediate class female students in mathematics. In order to achieve the study aim, the following two null hypotheses were formulated: 1) There is no statistically significant difference at 0.05 significance level between the mean score of the experimental group students who were taught by the synaptic strategy and the mean score of the control group students who were taught by the usual method employed for geometric thinking in mathematics. 2) There is no statistically significant difference at 0.05 significance level between the mean score of the experimental group students who were taught by the synectics strategy and the mean score of the control group students who were taught by the usual method employed for problem solving tests. The study population consisted of second intermediate stage female students in daytime intermediate schools of Diyala Directorate of Education for the academic year (2014-2015). The study sample included 51 female students chosen deliberately from Um Al-Baneen Intermediate School for Girls. The sample was divided into two groups: an experimental group consisting of 26 students taught by the synaptic strategy and a control group consisting of 25 students taught by the usual method. The two groups were equalized in terms of all variables: previous achievement in mathematics, previous knowledge test, IQ test, age calculated in months, and parents’ academic achievement. In order to achieve the aim of the study, the researcher devised a geometric thinking test consisting of 40 multiple-choice items. The test items’ validity and reliability were verified. The researcher also made a problem-solving test containing 14 essay questions, the validity and reliability of which were verified also. The experiment was conducted to both of the study groups. The researcher herself taught the experimental group by the synaptic strategy and the control group by the usual method. Having finished teaching the three chapters: plane geometry, coordinate geometry, and solid geometry, the researcher applied the two tools to both groups, and the necessary statistical processing was done by using the t-test of two independent samples. The results indicated the following: 1) There was a statistically significant difference between the mean score of the two groups in the geometric thinking test as a whole, as well as in every one of Van Hiele’s levels of geometric thinking (visualization, analysis, rigor and deduction) in favor of the experimental group which had been taught by the synaptic strategy. 2) There was a statistically significance difference between the mean score of the two groups in the problem-solving test as a whole as well as in each of the four patterns: reason stating pattern, proof with figure and text pattern, calculation pattern and numerical problems pattern, in favor of the experimental group which had been taught by the synaptic strategy. 3) There was no statistically significant difference between the mean score of the two groups in the patterns of proof completion and textual problems of the problem-solving test. The researcher reached a number of conclusions, most notable among them was the positive effect of synaptic strategy on the variables of geometric thinking and problem solving. The researcher also presented a number of recommendations and suggestions for future studies in this field. (Author’s abstract)