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ERIC Number: EJ1248675
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Apr
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1386-4416
EISSN: N/A
Promoting Sophisticated Fraction Constructs through Instructional Changes in a Mathematics Course for PreK-8 Prospective Teachers
Stevens, Alexis L.; Wilkins, Jesse L. M.; Lovin, LouAnn H.; Siegfried, John; Norton, Anderson; Busi, Richard
Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, v23 n2 p153-181 Apr 2020
In a previous study, we validated the fractions schemes and operations trajectory (Norton and Wilkins 2012; Steffe in J Math Behav 20(3): 267-307, 2002; Steffe and Olive Children's fractional knowledge. Springer, New York, 2010; Wilkins and Norton 2011) with PreK-8 prospective teachers and explored PreK-8 prospective teachers' understanding of fractions based on fraction schemes and operations (Lovin et al. 2016). In that study, we found that most of the prospective teachers had constructed the lower-level fraction schemes and operations, but less than half had constructed the more sophisticated ones. In the current study, we explored ways of evoking the more sophisticated fraction schemes and operations, in particular, by implementing simple instructional changes to a mathematics course for PreK-8 prospective teachers. One change focused on fraction language, specifically encouraging the use of iterative fraction language (e.g., 3/5 is three equal-size pieces, each of which is 1/5 of the whole). Another change focused on intentional number choice, specifically emphasizing improper fractions. After focused fraction instruction that included these instructional changes, we found significant increases in PreK-8 prospective teachers' interiorization of coordinating three levels of units as well as in PreK-8 prospective teachers' construction of the reversible partitive fraction scheme and the iterative fraction scheme. We conclude with implications for practice and research in mathematics courses intended for PreK-8 prospective teachers.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education; Elementary Education; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A