African Educational Research Journal - Vol. 5 - Full Length Research Paper - Exploring grade 12 mathematics students’ characteristics and views about geometry

Oct 15, 2026

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This study explores selected grade 12 mathematics students’ characteristics and links them to their views about geometry, using a quantitative design. Data come from a Johnson modified version questionnaire administered to 231 learners from five schools across three districts in Mpumalanga Province. Students’ expected marks for tests were significantly higher than achieved marks, and most learners reported putting greater effort into solving difficult geometry problems. The study recommends geometry-focused teacher workshops to strengthen effective teaching approaches.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Background on mathematics performance and geometry

Aim and research design

Constructivism

African Educational Research Journal Vol. 5(1), pp. 55-63, February 2017 ISSN: 2354-2160 Full Length Research Paper Exploring grade 12 mathematics students’characteristics and views they hold about geometry Dikeledi Mamiala1*, Andile Mji2 and Sibongile Simelane-Mnisi3 1 PO Box 386, Garsfontein, Pretoria 0042, South Africa. 2 Faculty of Humanities, Tshwane University of Technology, Soshanguve South Campus, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 003T1ac, Shi oungth AandfrLiceaa.rning with Technology Building 5-221, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Accepted 26 January, 2017 | ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to explore selected mathematics students’ characteristics and relate these to views students hold about geometry. The mathematics students’ characteristics that the researchers focused on, related to: their gender, age, the parents they stayed with, the percentage mark they expected in an upcoming test and final year examination, whether they attended extra-classroom geometry tutorials and how frequent, whether they intended to study further, as well as which careers they wished to follow. These different characteristics were selected based on literature readings relating to, for instance, students’ choice of career, including differences between males and females in career choice. The question pose in this study was: What were mathematics students’ characteristics and views about geometry? In order to answer this question the quantitative research design was used. Data was collected using Johnson modified version questionnaire. Participants were 231 grade 12 mathematics learners at Further Education and Training phase from 5 schools in 3 districts within Mpumalanga province. The results shows that students’ estimations of marks they expected to get in tests was significantly higher than expected marks, that is a mark of 60% or more in the upcoming test (66 .2%) than what they actually achieved. The results also show that students (81 .4%) felt that they put more effort into solving a difficult geometry problem. It is recommended that teachers be exposed to workshops that will enhance their teaching approaches that will help students to develop interest and confidence in the learning of geometry.
Keywords: Grade 12, students, mathematics, characteristics, geometry. | | --- | | *Corresponding author. E-mail: [dikeledi. mamiala@live.co.za. Tel:](dikeledi. mamiala@live.co.za. Tel:) +27 18 285 2067. Fax: +27 18 285 2080. | INTRODUCTION In a country like South Africa it may be viewed as extremely difficult for high school students to choose a career. There are a number of reasons that may be associated with this challenge. Firstly, because of its history a number of African people in the country are poor and invariably not educated. Considering that parents and teachers play a significant role in the choice of career, it is inconceivable that students would not receive influential reference points from their parents. Secondly, a majority of Grade 12 students in the country fail to acquire university entry grades. This, in effect, means in focusing on ability, it is difficult to see how critical careers such as being scientists and economists will be easily filled in future. Furthermore, mathematics in South Africa is not taken by many students at school level. Of those who take it, very few pass the subject. Statistics show a continuous downward trend in the mathematics pass rate going from: 59. 1% in 2013, 53. 5% in 2014 and 49. 1% in 2015 (Department of Basic Education, 2015) . The section of mathematics that students perform extremely poorly is Euclidian geometry. In this regard, in an overview of student performance in a 2014 mathematics paper with different sections including geometry, it is pointed out “ …candidates lacked the necessary insight to deal with … complex questions in Euclidean Geometry (Department of Basic Education, 2015: 121) . Further, in

FAQs

What is the purpose of the study on grade 12 mathematics students and geometry?

The study investigates selected students’ characteristics and relates them to the views students hold about geometry.

How were the data collected in this research?

A quantitative design was used, with data collected using a Johnson modified version questionnaire.

What key results are reported about students’ test marks and effort in geometry?

Students’ estimated marks were significantly higher than marks actually achieved, and most students reported greater effort when solving difficult geometry problems.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Stanford