Project Overview

The problem that I have noted is that students entering Jr. High School struggle with understanding fractions and decimals when using division. Students are taught the concept of remainders in elementary school, which implies whole numbers rather than fractions or decimals. This teaching method often results in students not understanding the concept of fractions and decimals that represent part of a whole number. This indicates a need for th accurate training regarding fractions and decimals in the 5 grade. The aim of my project is to promote a clear understanding of fractions and decimals by learners as a means of improving math competency. Learners need to recognize the infinite spectrum between whole numbers are expressed as fractions. These fractions can also be expressed using numbers to the right of a decimal point, having a place value of 10ths, 100ths, 1000ths, etc... I have worked with countless students who have been taught, in elementary school, the concept of remainders. This concept implies that any division problem whose quotient is not a whole number will result in remaining whole numbers left over. This teaching is incorrect and results in many students struggling to understand fractions in the middle school years and beyond. I am, therefore, designing instruction that will properly teach students how the remainders represent a fraction rather than a whole number. This instruction should result in students understanding the infinite spectrum of fractions between two whole numbers.

Primary Audience
th th My primary audience will be 5 grade students. 5 grade is the grade level where students begin to divide numbers whose quotient does not result in a whole number, but instead results th in a fraction. The decimal point is introduced in 5 grade and fractions are also introduced. It is at this grade level that remainders are discussed and it is at this level where many teachers fail to properly teach fractions.

Secondary Audience
th My secondary audience will be the parents of 5 grade students. Since my material will be produced in an online format, I will have many parents sitting alongside their children, working through the material. I often find that parents have struggled with fractions due to a long succession of poor teaching in our education system. Parents who struggle with fractions will benefit from walking through these lessons with their children. In addition to parents, future business people will benefit from students having a firm understanding of fractions. Many jobs require basic skills and understanding of fractions. Students who develop a clear understanding of fractions will ultimately provide their bosses with a more highly skilled workforce.

Learner Characteristics and Prerequisites

Learners must have a rudimentary understanding of division and multiplication. They must be able to add or subtract the same number multiple times. Learners must also have access to a computer and high speed internet connection so that they can work with the manipulatives in the course.

Delivery Method
The delivery method for this module will be online with the use of a learning management system (LMS) powering the course material.