Investigating the Understanding of Basic Elementary Geometry Concepts among Bachelor of Science Graduates in Mathematics Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate BSC graduated mathematics teachers’ understanding of some basic elementary geometry concepts. To conduct the study, descriptive survey design and inferential t-test were employed. A total of 53 where 43 males and 10 female mathematics teachers, who came to attend Post Graduate Diploma (PGDT/Teaching) program in 2018/2019 Dilla University Ethiopia, constituted by convenience sampling techniques were participated in the study and completed the achievement test. A 15-item achievement test on basic elementary geometry concepts in Mathematics were used as an instrument for the study. The findings revealed that, out of 15 concepts, 1.55 and 1.85 were answered by female and male teachers respectively. Where it perceived as difficult to understand and solve by BSC graduated Mathematics teachers. Also, there was no significant difference in teachers’ gender understanding and solving elementary basic concepts in geometry is p=0.372 greater than p=0.05 level of significant. It is therefore recommended that extremely important BSc holders in mathematics teachers’ skill up through their professional development program, the stakeholders and the MOE have to step up conscription efforts and universities have to take an action like workshop to fill the gap.