The implementation of ‘decaruse’ to enhance students’ visual imagery in mathematics

Abstract

Visual imagery is the sense of having “pictures” in mind. Visual imagery is a particularly important element in studying mathematics. It involves several cognitive activities like spatial reasoning, the acquisition of skills, memory, and the comprehension of non-routine problems in mathematics. Weak learners have a weak concept imagery that makes them unable to perceive and create gestalt image. Fifty students of Programme Pra Pengajian Tinggi Semester March-July 2024 at Mara University of Technology Kelantan were involved. The vividness of visual imagery that consists of questions on characteristics of people, scenery and objects developed by David Marks (1973) was applied in this study. From the result, it showed that 60  % of the students are weak in visual imagery. Therefore, ’DECARUSE,’ that stands for ‘define characters,’ ’category,’ ’representational’ and ‘use ‘were designed. The triangulation method of observation, interview and questionnaires showed that there is an improvement in students’ visual imagery towards mathematics, thus, helping them to score in their examination.