It is a fun way to look at fractions.
Quality of content:
Overall the website presents valid concepts, models and skills. Students are able to see the correct form of a fraction with pictures and the numerical format as well as create their own. The website presents the does present a significant concept in fractions. Fractions are one of the most difficult concepts that I have worked with children on. They struggle to use manipulatives and create their own. This provides created manipulatives and visuals for the students to use when they are relating the fractions to their numerical format.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool:
1. This website provides scaffolded learning for students with fractions. It moves students from an introduction of basic fractions to adding and finally multiplying fractions. Each "session" provides students with a demonstration of the skill with visuals, a quick independent practice with answers, and then more independent practice to cement the concept.
2. Objectives - this site provides teachers with the objectives that students should be attaining across grade levels from second to seventh grade. The basis is that students will be able to identify fractions in their numerical and pictorial form, recognize equivalent fractions, add and multiply fractions.
3. Characteristics of targeted learner(s) - although the standards address 2nd - 7th grade, this website requires learner(s) who are able to read at a 4th or 5th grade level. They need to have basic computer skills of typing and know where to look for continuing to the next activity. (There are no buttons marked as next. Students are required to read from 3 options at the bottom of the page.)
4. This interactive presentation will improve student's abilities to teacher and learn the material. This site could be improved with more animation and sounds to show students success. There is little to no animation or sound bites that help engage the students in the activity. The visuals help them understand the concept, but there is not much more to promote student engagement.
5. This website could be readily integrated into current curriculum and pedagogy. It could be used with students as a workshop station. It could be used to scaffold instruction and provide students of higher levels with the next level in fraction instruction. It could also provide students with a chance to teach one another the concept through group participation.
6. The website could be used in large/small group instruction or workshop time to promote understanding of the concepts. Either use would give students a visual and a participation time to engage and learn the required concepts.
7. The teaching and learning goals are easy to identify, and are even provided in a teacher's note section at the bottom of the page. It provides several standards and expectations for students of grades 2-7.
8. This website is user friendly. It might require the teacher to take a quick moment to show how to navigate to the next session. If students have the reading level, and take time to read the options they will be able to easily navigate through the lessons and activities.
- The table of contents page is laid out in a visually clear manner. It can be difficult to find the buttons to move from one activity to the next. It is written text and does not show an arrow or directional picture to show which way should be next.
- The user does not get trapped or easily lost in the material, unless they have a reading level at or below a 3rd grade level. If they are able to read and comprehend it is easily navigated.
- The website provides feedback for students after they complete the session. They are able to see examples of fractions and then complete independent practice problems. At the end of each page, they are able to submit their work and see how well they did. It provides the answers so they can go back and review their work.
- This module is flexible in the aspect of scaffolding. It provides different levels so that students in many levels of understanding fractions can be addressed. It also provides more practice problems after students finish initial practice to cement concept understanding. The only problem is that the problems do not change after a student has completed the module one time. The questions are the same, and there is a possibility that if students ran the assignment again they could memorize the answers and not show an understanding of the material.
- This website does not require a lot of technical support for the students. If the teacher is able to get the quiz scores after a student has completed it there would be documentation, but it does not provide an instantaneous report. There is little to no training required for students to complete the activities on this website. They have to read, answer questions, and identify the navigation links when finished. Finding the navigation links would be the hardest thing for the students. As long as they are able to read, the navigation buttons are listed at the bottom of every lesson.
- The material is presented in a way that is familiar to students. Many fraction problems deal with squares and rectangles being split into pieces. There is not a lot of differentiation from this visual. There are different colors Incorporated, but it does not show fractions in circles or any other format.
- Overall the material is presented in a way that could be attractive to students. They are able to click to highlight pieces to represent fractions. There are some illustrations and vibrant colors. It would be better if there was animation and sound effects with this website.
Overall, this is a website that I would incorporate inside of my classroom. I could use it with large or small group instruction. It would require computers or smart boards, but would allow the students to participate in their learning. It is engaging, accurate, and fun.
