Searching and exploring properties of geometric configurations using dynamic software

Recent curriculum proposals recognize that the use of technology plays an important role in students' learning of mathematics. What do students need (in terms of mathematics resources) in order to use technology as a mathematical tool? When does the use of technology become a powerful tool for students? To what extent do students' approaches to mathematical tasks, via paper and pencil, differ from technological approaches? Are these two approaches compatible? Are previous students' experiences transferable to technology approach experiences? These are fundamental questions that are important to investigate in order to identify and analyse the potential in using technology as tools to construct and understand mathematical ideas. This study documents the students' use of Cabri-Geometry to work on tasks that led them to construct particular relationships and to explore and connect different mathematical themes or ideas.