Incomplete or incorrect understanding of decimals: An important deficit for student nurses
- Pierce, Robyn, Steinle, Vicki
- Authors: Pierce, Robyn , Steinle, Vicki
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 30th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, PME30, Mathematics in the Centre, Prague, Czech Republic : 16th - 21st July, 2006 p. 161-169
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In this study more than 40% of the 355 student nurses who completed a pre-test, involving comparisons of decimal numbers, made errors that indicate an incomplete or incorrect conceptual understanding. This includes students who are sometimes able to achieve 100% on drug calculations tests. Seven test items with error rates of between 10% and 26% form the focus of our discussion. A sub-group of the students attended a one-hour remedial intervention using various physical materials to give conceptual meaning to decimal numbers. A matched post-test three months after the intervention, detected a statistically significant improvement for the intervention students but not for those who only practiced drug calculation procedures. Conceptual teaching for number sense is needed to underpin procedures.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001562
- Authors: Pierce, Robyn , Steinle, Vicki
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 30th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, PME30, Mathematics in the Centre, Prague, Czech Republic : 16th - 21st July, 2006 p. 161-169
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In this study more than 40% of the 355 student nurses who completed a pre-test, involving comparisons of decimal numbers, made errors that indicate an incomplete or incorrect conceptual understanding. This includes students who are sometimes able to achieve 100% on drug calculations tests. Seven test items with error rates of between 10% and 26% form the focus of our discussion. A sub-group of the students attended a one-hour remedial intervention using various physical materials to give conceptual meaning to decimal numbers. A matched post-test three months after the intervention, detected a statistically significant improvement for the intervention students but not for those who only practiced drug calculation procedures. Conceptual teaching for number sense is needed to underpin procedures.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001562
Using CAS to enrich the teaching and learning of mathematics
- Authors: Pierce, Robyn
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Tenth Asian Technology Conference in Mathematics, Cheong-Ju, South Korea : 12th - 16th December, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) are powerful tools for both doing and learning mathematics. They may be used to perform algorithmic routines both quickly and correctly but harnessing this power in a manner which is effective for promoting learning is not trivial. Research undertaken with both secondary school and undergraduate students clearly indicates that, while students quickly come to appreciate the availability of CAS to check their answers, several key factors influence the development of their use of the facility of CAS to extend both access to mathematics and support learning of mathematical concepts. First, the institutional value which the technology is afforded influences the degree to which students are willing to apply themselves to the task of learning technical skills necessary to work with CAS. Second, the use of multiple representations may both increase students’ conceptual understanding and provide them with alternative methods through which to progress solution of problems. Finally, students need to be guided in judicious use of CAS. This will involve teaching students to be discriminating in their use of technology for functional purposes, that is, to find solutions to difficult or time consuming problems, and strategic in their use of CAS to explore patterns and link representations in order to gain greater insight into mathematical processes and concepts.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001445
- Authors: Pierce, Robyn
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Tenth Asian Technology Conference in Mathematics, Cheong-Ju, South Korea : 12th - 16th December, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) are powerful tools for both doing and learning mathematics. They may be used to perform algorithmic routines both quickly and correctly but harnessing this power in a manner which is effective for promoting learning is not trivial. Research undertaken with both secondary school and undergraduate students clearly indicates that, while students quickly come to appreciate the availability of CAS to check their answers, several key factors influence the development of their use of the facility of CAS to extend both access to mathematics and support learning of mathematical concepts. First, the institutional value which the technology is afforded influences the degree to which students are willing to apply themselves to the task of learning technical skills necessary to work with CAS. Second, the use of multiple representations may both increase students’ conceptual understanding and provide them with alternative methods through which to progress solution of problems. Finally, students need to be guided in judicious use of CAS. This will involve teaching students to be discriminating in their use of technology for functional purposes, that is, to find solutions to difficult or time consuming problems, and strategic in their use of CAS to explore patterns and link representations in order to gain greater insight into mathematical processes and concepts.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001445
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