The study of geometry in grades 5-8 should incorporate opportunities for students to engage in exploring and analyzing geometric shapes to conjecture about geometric relationships through data collection and model construction, according to the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989). In this fashion, students will develop an intuitive understanding of geometric concepts and learn to reason formally and informally. Moreover, it is hoped that through such processes, students will formulate relevant definitions and theorems. The Standards document also encourages the use of computer technologies in middle school mathematics instruction. This suggestion was based on the assumption that interactive environments provided by appropriate geometry software have the potential to foster students' movement from concrete expetiences with mathematics to more formal levels of abstractions, nurture students' conjectuting spirit, and improve their mathematical thinking. Although the NCTM's visions for the geometry curriculum and for methods of teaching geometry in the middle levels are certainly attractive, many teachers are concerned about what software is useful for the middle school population, how such software can be used in instruction. what issues are associated with their use, and what the consequences are of learning and teaching mathematics within such environments.
