RATIONAL NUMBER AND PROPORTIONAL REASONING: USING INTENSIVE QUANTITIES TO PROMOTE ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE |
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Authors: | Christine Howe Terezinha Nunes Peter Bryant |
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Institution: | (1) Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia |
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Abstract: | Student mastery of rational number and proportional reasoning is a recognized challenge, yet supporting mastery is central
within mathematics and science. This paper focuses on a 4-lesson teaching programme which was designed to foster mastery in
the context of intensive quantities. Intensive quantities such as density, speed and temperature depend upon proportional
relations, require rational number for their representation and are relevant to science. Two versions of the teaching programme
were developed, one using ratio representation and the other using fractions. Implementation with 535 children aged 9–11 years
revealed that both versions promoted mastery of fractions, whilst the ratio version also supported proportional reasoning.
It is suggested that the ratio version provides useful foundations for teaching, even with children who, as with the present
sample, have no previous experience of ratios themselves. |
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Keywords: | |
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