Integration of the Internet (and Other Resources) into Mathematics

Mhairi (Vi) Maeers

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Regional Conference

October 17, 2002

10:30-12:00, Glenelm Room, Regina Inn

E-Mail: maeers@uregina.ca

CONCEPTUAL INTEGRATION AND PERCEPTUAL AND MATHEMATICAL VARIBILITY

In this workshop we will work with rational numbers--common fractions and we will concentrate on exploring fractional relationships with the intention of comparing fractional amounts to determining equivalence, and to determine more than and less than. We will also engage in some exploration of addition and subtraction of fractional amounts. All the resources, including the Internet resources, and all the activities, have been selected to create learning environments in which the above concepts are most likely to be explored. For the purpose of this workshop I will assume that you all know about fractions and this workshop could thus serve as an opportunity for me to conduct performance assessment of what you know. I have therefore included both perceptual and mathematical variability.

During and/or after each activity discuss the following with your partner:

• What rational number concept(s) is/are being addressed in this activity?
• Are there other manipulatives and/or other learning environments which would address this concept better?
• What did I learn today, either about the fraction content, or about resources/activities to use to enable children to learn fractions -- or both?
• Write some notes to remind yourself of the above points

The activities you will engage in today are available online at http://education.uregina.ca/mathed/NCTM_IntegrationMathematics.html