Pre-service mathematics teachers’ mathematical objects and semiotic functions in GeoGebra-based trigonometry tasks: An onto-semiotic analysis
Dian Septi Nur Afifah 1 * , Muhtarom 2 , Silfia Hayuningrat 3 , Ria Fajrin Rizqy Ana 1 , Evi Widayanti 4 , Muhammad Ilman Nafiʼan 5 , Nurul Azizah 1 , Mochamad Kirom 1 , Lovry Arindo Setiawan 1
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1 Universitas Bhinneka PGRI, Tulungagung, INDONESIA2 Universitas PGRI Semarang, Semarang, INDONESIA3 Indonesia University of Education, Bandung, INDONESIA4 STKIP Bina Insan Mandiri, Surabaya, INDONESIA5 Universitas Islam Negeri Syekh Wasil Kediri, Kediri, INDONESIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Understanding how pre-service mathematics teachers construct and connect mathematical objects in digital environments remains a persistent challenge in mathematics teacher education. Grounded in the onto-semiotic approach (OSA), this study examined whether pre-service teachers’ technically correct GeoGebra constructions of trigonometric functions reflect genuine mathematical understanding, or whether such performance depends on further factors, including how far representations are connected across registers and the quality of mediation the tool affords. Indonesian pre-service mathematics teachers completed GeoGebra-based trigonometric function tasks; data were drawn from written responses, GeoGebra construction files analyzed at the file-structure level, and semi-structured interviews with participants selected for contrasting performance. Results reveal a three-tier proficiency structure, with only a small subset of participants connecting mathematical representations across multiple registers, evidence that technically correct performance does not necessarily indicate procedural mastery. Notably, even the highest-performing participant, once interviewed, revealed an unresolved difficulty translating phase shift between angular and coordinate representations, an obstacle invisible in written work alone. Tool use remained predominantly practical rather than exploratory, suggesting a possible role for instructional guidance in deepening engagement with GeoGebra.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 22, Issue 8, August 2026, Article No: em2892

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19086

Publication date: 06 Aug 2026

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