Investigating Instructions on Rational Number Arithmetic in Elementary School

Researcher external pageParvaneh Babaricall_made

Conceptual understanding of rational numbers and performing their algorithmic operations is the key to success not only for more advanced mathematics, but also for occupational success. Despite this importance, many students and even adults have severe difficulty acquiring knowledge about rational numbers.

In this research project, we first concentrate on the acquisition of knowledge about rational numbers. From a cognitive psychological point of view, we check how problems and difficulties arise in the development of competencies. Particularly, we analyse how the selection of tasks in mathematics textbooks may bias children’s understanding of rational number arithmetic and promotes the development of misconceptions. Then we investigate how different instructional sequences may enhance children’s ability to understand the multiple representations of rational numbers and to conduct arithmetic operations with them.