Abstract:

Visualisation by creating visual imagery in the mind has been an effective way to understand both abstract and concrete ideas since the dawn of humanity. Visualisation is an integral part of abstract thinking also in mathematics and a necessary prerequisite for the creation of mental ideas.

In this article, we provide a brief overview of the content changing in the terminology of visualisation, mental image, spatial ability, and other related terms in literature. Hereafter we analyse the possibilities of using a dynamic geometry environment effectively for supporting creative visual imaging during problem-solving in different areas of geometry. Software GeoGebra offers a possibility to create dynamic virtual spatial objects and thus provides virtual representations of real objects to improve students´ spatial ability. Manipulation with real and virtual objects simultaneously builds a strong connection between them in the learner´s mind and thus supports the improvement of spatial ability.

In the paper, we give examples of using different instruments, for example, anaglyphs and so-called navigation guides, for better understanding the spatial relations visualised in virtual objects.

Keywords:

Visualisation, mental image, solid geometry, dynamic geometry environment, GeoGebra, virtual objects.