EDMA360 Mathematics: Learning and Teaching Mathematics 2

Assignment 1

Rational Number Assessment

Milia Abou-Saba
S00141495
John-Pauls level of understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages
varied between the topics, with his knowledge in certain topics being stronger
than in others. When asked how decimal forms of certain values would be
written, John-Paul was able to accurately able to list the decimal, only making a
mistake when the value was in the thousandths. John-Paul was able to order
decimals in the right order, including being able to identify that two decimals
were in fact the same, despite one having an extra zero. He was able to make
connections between equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages. John-Paul
was able to accurately able to identify which decimals are larger in a pair by
looking at the number from left to right and interpreting it. While completing
the rational number interview, it became evident that John-Paul enjoyed
working, or just knew how to work with decimals and percentages more than
fractions as he often converted fractions into decimals or percentages in order
to work with them. John-Paul was able to convert fractions to decimals
accurately for most of the interview only making a few mistakes. When asked
to identify which fraction was larger or smaller out of a set, he often used gap
thinking. He did this by looking at the difference between the numerator and
the denominator on each fraction, concluding that the one with the smaller
difference was the larger fraction because it has less to go to be a whole. This
is a misconception with fractions, as it does not take into consideration that the
denominator is what determines the size of each fraction piece, not the
numerator, and so the difference between the denominator and numerator only
matters when the denominators are the same. When provided with a means to
physically manipulate items, such as shape cut-outs and an image of a grid,
John-Paul was able to more easily identify fractions, compared to when he was
asked to complete the question in his head. John-Paul has an understanding of
simplifying fractions, and understands what equivalent fractions are and how
they are found, but has difficulties in regards to the addition of fractions. He
 EDMA360 Mathematics: Learning and Teaching Mathematics 2
Assignment 1

believes you simply add the denominators together and the numerators
together. John-Paul was always enthusiastic about explaining how he arrived at
an answer, and attempted most questions, even when in some instances he
was not sure about the answer.