Measuring and investigating strategic knowledge about drawing to solve geometry modelling problems

Abstract

We report on the construction, validation, and implementation of an instrument for measuring students’ strategic knowledge about drawing for geometry modelling problems, namely, the strategic knowledge about drawing scale. We conducted a qualitative study and a quantitative study to validate the proposed construction and interpretation of the scale and to obtain initial findings on students’ strategic knowledge about drawing. Results showed that ninth-grade students in the intermediate achievement track had less elaborated strategic knowledge about drawing than their peers in the high achievement track. Further, strategic knowledge about drawing was found to be related to drawing accuracy and modelling performance even when cognitive abilities and interest were controlled for. The current study suggests that promoting strategic knowledge about drawing might be a means to increase drawing and modelling performance—especially among non-high-achieving students.