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The aim of this study was to investigate the skills and deficiencies of senior university students enrolled in a mathematics education program with the concepts of symmetry and rotation of geometric figures. The study was conducted with 32 prospective teachers in the Department of Education at a public university located in Western Turkey. This descriptive study was designed with a case study. A structured interview technique was used for data collection. A measurement tool consisting of 12 drawing problems testing symmetry (5 problems) and rotation (7 problems) ability was used in the study. Descriptive statistical methods were used for data analysis. The drawings were analyzed individually, and the students' mistakes and deficiencies were categorized. According to the results of the study, prospective elementary mathematics teachers did not have difficulty in drawing the symmetry of an object or in determining the symmetry axis. However, while they could rotate the figure when a rotation axis was provided, they failed to rotate it in the absence of an axis. In addition, prospective elementary mathematics teachers generally failed to find the center of the given rotated figures. The results of the present study were consistent with results in the literature.Keywords: Symmetry skill, rotation skill, prospective elementary mathematics teacher. ResumenEl objetivo de este estudio fue investigar las habilidades y dificultades de los estudiantes de un curso de formación de profesores de matemáticas en relación con los conceptos de simetría y rotación de figuras geométricas. El estudio se llevó a cabo con 32 futuros profesores en un departamento de educación de una universidad pública ubicada en el oeste de Turquía. Éste es un estudio descriptivo que está diseñado con un estudio de caso. Para la recopilación de los datos se aplicó una técnica de entrevista estructurada. En el estudio se utilizó una herramienta de medición consistente de doce problemas de dibujo, cinco sobre la capacidad en la simetría y siete en la de rotación. Para el análisis de datos se emplearon métodos de estadística descriptiva. Los dibujos fueron analizados de forma individual y se clasificaron los errores y las deficiencias de los estudiantes. De acuerdo con los resultados del estudio, los futuros profesores de matemáticas elementales no tuvieron dificultad en dibujar la simetría de un objeto o en hallar el eje de simetría. Sin embargo, mientras que ellos * A preliminary and short version of this paper was presented at the 10 th Mathematics Symposium on 21-23 September 2011, İstanbul, Turkey. Palabras clave: Habilidad para la Simetría; habilidad para rotar; futuro profesor de matemáticas elementales.

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This study aimed to investigate the effects of computer aided instructional applications on mathematics teacher candidates' geometry success and determine their perceptions on learning and teaching geometry supported by software. The study is a parallel-simultaneous mixed method research due to use of qualitative and quantitative data together. Within the scope of the research conducted, 30 teacher candidates attending Department of Elementary Mathematics Education at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Education were selected as the participants of the study. The results of the research show that Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) course applications ensure teacher candidates to increase their geometry success with also respect to t-test results. It is understood teacher candidates find the software activities and spreadsheets sufficient, especially in demonstration of proofs. The computer aided -student centered instructional method used in this research takes positive reaction by the candidates and software language, tutorial time and the physical characteristics of schools take attention as the critique aspects of applying software tutorials. The participants also noted that the way of development of software activities and spreadsheets affects the way of choosing suitable approach for the instruction.Keywords: Computer aided instruction, mixed-model inquiry, geometry instruction. SummaryLearning geometry is an important part of mathematical ability. Computer algebra systems and geometry softwares present quite advantageous samples for manipulating geometric and numeric realities. Among these, Geometers Sketchpad is an example for tools manipulating geometric objects. For applying such tools for instruction, it is important to determine how eager teacher candidates are for using this technology in their lessons and, to what extent they improve their achievement scores by using such tool in order to determine their level. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the outcomes of software use within the context of geometry instruction. Participants consisted of 30 fourthyear elementary mathematics teacher candidates attending Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty Of Education. A parallel-simultaneous mixed methodology was conducted to collect both qualitative and quantitative data at the same time. The experimental part of the study is designed by pretest-posttest experimental design without a control group and one researcher used a diary during all nine-week research process. After the intervention, a semi-constructed interview was conducted to collect additional qualitative data.

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