A study on difficulties in Learning Geometry at Secondary Level students

Abstract

Most of the students and even teachers regard mathematics as a difficult and unfavorable subject in school education. However, different studies have shown that it could be made easier if we find the difficulties in learning mathematics.So, this study is intended to identify the difficulties in learning geometry and to identify the causes of difficulties in learning geometry at secondary level. This is a case study conducted at grade ten students of Shree Nepal National Higher Secondary School Dumarwana. It is qualitative research design. The respondents for the study consisted of head teacher, mathematics teacher, and six students of the case school.Itook van Hiele Geometric Test for grade ten students. I took interview with head teacher, mathematics teacher and six weak studentsthree were boys and three were girls from different gender.I observed the mathematics class for ten days and I analyzed the obtained data with the help of conceptual understanding.Also the data are analyzed on the basis of learning environment, classroom practice, teaching methods and materials,students-teacher interaction and student’s pre-knowledge. From the data analysis it is found that students feel difficulties in visualization and analysis of geometrical figures. They have difficulties in definition, axioms, postulate, statements and theorem of geometry.The causes of becoming difficulties in geometry is due to lack of classroom practice,lack of appropriate teaching method and materials, lack of pre-knowledge about basic geometric concept,lack of teacher student interaction, lack of motivation in classroom,learning environment is not appropriate,poverty of students, irregularity can’t give sufficient time in mathematics.