MATHEMATICS: TRADITIONS AND [NEW] PRACTICES • © AAMT & MERGA 2011 YOUNG CHILDREN’S UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT “SQUARE ” IN 3D VIRTUAL REALITY MICROWORLDS

This paper reports an investigation of primary school children’s understandings about ―square‖. 12 students participated in a small group teaching experiment session, where they were interviewed and guided to construct a square in a 3D virtual reality learning environment (VRLE). Main findings include mixed levels of ―quasi ‖ geometrical understandings, misconceptions about length and angles, and ambiguous uses of geometrical language for location, direction, and movement. These have implications for future teaching and learning about 2D shapes with particular reference to VRLE