ERIC Number: ED572981
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
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Available Date: N/A
Using Semiotic Resources to Build Images When Teaching the Part-Whole Model of Fractions
Mildenhall, Paula
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (36th, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2013)
This paper reports an exploration into the use of a combination of semiotic resources when teaching the part-whole model of fractions. The study involved a single case study of one class teacher and six students in an Australian primary classroom. Using video as the predominate research tool it was possible to describe how gesture and language were combined with two and three dimensional representations of folding paper, fraction walls and number lines to build images that appeared to enhance students' understanding of the part-whole model of fractions. I conjecture that the variety semiotic resources including gesture should have more prominence in teachers' planning documents.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary School Mathematics, Mathematics Instruction, Semiotics, Fractions, Case Studies, Video Technology, Nonverbal Communication, Verbal Communication, Manipulative Materials, Mathematical Concepts, Concept Formation, Teaching Methods, Focus Groups, Semi Structured Interviews
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. GPO Box 2747, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: sales@merga.net.au; Web site: http://www.merga.net.au/
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A