Visual perception and linguistic abilities, not quantitative knowledge, count in geometric knowledge of kindergarten children.

Geometric knowledge is one of the important mathematical skills acquired by children at a young age and is a major area of future mathematical learning; however, there is no direct research on the factors influencing kindergarteners' early geometric knowledge. The pathways model to mathematics was modified to examine the cognitive mechanisms underlying geometric knowledge in Chinese kindergarten children aged 5-7 (n = 99). Quantitative knowledge, visual-spatial processing, and linguistic abilities were stepped into hierarchical multiple regression models. The results revealed that after age, sex, and nonverbal intelligence were statistically controlled, visual perception, phonological awareness, and rapid automatized naming in linguistic abilities significantly predicted the variation in geometric knowledge. For quantitative knowledge, neither dot comparison nor number comparison test could be a significant precursor of geometry skills. The findings indicate that visual perception and linguistic abilities, not quantitative knowledge, account for the geometric knowledge of kindergarten children.

Diseño de estructuras con alambres en artesanías de Usiacurí / Design of structures with wire in Usiacurí handcrafts

RESUMEN El problema de investigación surge del interés por los conocimientos matemáticos presentes en la práctica artesanal del municipio de Usiacurí - Atlántico, Colombia, específicamente, en el diseño de estructuras con alambres. La justificación de esta investigación, se basa en que los resultados permiten comprender y describir la etnomatemática presente en una práctica artesanal. El objetivo principal fue analizar el diseño de las estructuras con alambres en las artesanías de Usiacurí. La metodología utilizada durante la investigación fue de tipo cualitativo, basado en la etnografía. La presente investigación, se fundamenta teóricamente en el programa etnomatemática, que tiene como propósito contribuir, tanto a la comprensión de la cultura como a la de las matemáticas y, principalmente, se interesa por la conexión entre ambos aspectos. Dentro de los resultados obtenidos en la investigación predominan las técnicas utilizadas por los artesanos en el proceso de corte y medición del alambre, la estrategia que usan para la unión entre los alambres, el diseño de las formas o figuras en alambre, entre otros conocimientos matemáticos, contextualizados en la práctica artesanal.

ABSTRACT The research problem arises from the interest in the mathematical knowledge present in the artisanal practice of the municipality of Usiacurí, Atlántico de Colombia, specifically in the design of wire structures. The justification for this research is based on the results, understanding and describing the ethnomathematics present in an artisan practice. The main objective was to analyze the design of the structures with wires in the crafts of Usiacurí. The methodology used during the investigation was of a qualitative type based on ethnography. The present research is theoretically based on the ethnomathematic program whose purpose is to contribute to the understanding of culture and mathematics and mainly, this research is interested in the connection between both aspects. Among the results obtained in the investigation, the techniques used by the artisans in the process of cutting and measuring the wire predominate, the strategy they use for the union between the wires, the design of the shapes or figures in wire, among other mathematical knowledge contextualized in craft practice.