Exploring the links between Van Hiele Levels and 3 - dimensional geometry

Angel Gutiérrez Departamento de Didáctica de la T his paper presents some hypotheses about the use of the Van Hiele Model of thinking as a framework for understanding the processes of learning in 3-dimenMatemática Universidad de Valencia Apartado 22045 sional Geometry. 46071 Valencia, Spain In this area it is specially important to differentiate the processes concerning spatial visualization from those which relate to solids (polyhedrons, etc.) and their properties. They are two inter-related but different topics, having each one its own characteristics. Therefore, two different fields of research can be considered (although both are strongly related): The use of the Van Hiele Model to understand and organize the acquisition of abilities of spatial visualization and the use of the Van Hiele Model to understand and organize the learning of 3-dimensional Geometry. This paper deals with the first field, presenting results of an exploratory experiment aimed at improving the abilities of spatial visualization in sixth-grade students. Possible