Date Approved
4-20-1995
Embargo Period
9-11-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Mathematics Education
Department
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math Education
College
College of Education
Advisor
Sooy, John
Subject(s)
Education, Secondary--United States; Geometry--Study and teaching (Secondary)
Disciplines
Science and Mathematics Education
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a three week fractal geometry unit plan and analyze its success at the high school level. The researcher evaluated the research and literature related to fractal geometry and fractal geometry education suitable for the high school student. A fractal geometry unit plan was constructed. Topics covered in the unit plan included introductory concepts, the Koch curve, Sierpinski's triangle, coastline length, the chaos game, complex numbers, the Mandelbrot set and computer generated fractal images.
The unit plan was taught to three tenth grade honors geometry classes at Washington Township High School in Southern New Jersey. Each class consisted of about twenty-five students. The students were given six short quizzes and a final test consisting of twenty-five open-ended questions to measure the success of the unit plan. All quiz and test means for the three classes were eighty-four or above. Based on the analysis of the quiz and test data the researcher concluded that the fractal geometry unit plan was successful.
Recommended Citation
Fine, Ira A., "The development of a unit on fractal geometry appropriate for the high school student" (1995). Theses and Dissertations. 2235.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/2235
