Geometrical intuition and the learning and teaching of geometry

Description/Abstract

Intuition is often regarded as essential in the learning of geometry, but how such skills might be effectively developed in students remains an open question. This paper reviews the role and importance of geometrical intuition and suggests it involves the skills to create and manipulate geometrical figures in the mind, to see geometrical properties, to relate images to concepts and theorems in geometry, and decide where and how to start when solving problems in geometry. Based on these theoretical considerations, we illustrate a range of student tasks that we argue should contribute to developing students’ geometrical intuition.