Effects of Unit Coordination Instruction on Learning Fractions in Students With Math Difficulties

• In Event: Mathematics in Special Education

Abstract

Many students with mathematics difficulties (MD) struggle with learning fractions and proportions. Mathematics education research has reported that unit coordination helps students with learning fractions and proportions. This study aimed to (a) examine effects of two intervention treatments both focusing on concept of units on fraction performance, and (b) compare the effects of exposing students with MD to varying representation (lengths) of unit of 1s in comparison to exposing students to a fixed representation of units of 1s. Results showed that both groups significantly improved on fraction tasks, and the group exposed varying lengths of units of 1s outperformed their peers exposed to a fixed length of units of 1s on the generalization test on proportions.

Authors

• Dake Zhang, Rutgers University

• Pengdong Li

• Bianca Di Dolce

• Kylah Corron

• Marima SUAREZ

• Eric Ian Quirinale, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway