Teaching Fractions Online

 

Teaching Fractions online to Preservice Teachers

Late in the semester, I usually teach fractions to my preservice teachers.  For the first week, I teach my students how to recognize fractions with various models and how to model fractions without using conventional methods. For week two, I teach ordering fractions with like and unlike denominators. For the third and fourth week, I teach students how to estimate the operation of fractions and how to operationalize fractions using models and reasoning skills. This year is different. The COVID challenged me to teach fractions online!!!

 This year I taught fractions online. The concept of Fractions is very hard to learn even for preservice teachers.  It is hard to teach factions face to face. Well, it is even harder online.  First, the nature of how I teach fraction challenges how they learn the concept in elementary school. They are used to procedural knowledge like converting to common decimals and common denominators.  Another challenge is convincing them to show their models without showing themselves. But that is a challenge for another day. 

 I allowed my students access to online manipulatives to model various fractions. This went well. Then students were asked to place fractions in order from least to greatest using reasoning skills. This is where the fun began. My students were allowed to use models, fraction pieces, benchmark fractions, alike numerators, and denominators. After not being able to understand completely,  they asked to come to the university for class. They had a challenging time understanding the concept of ordering fractions without converting them to decimals. I agreed to have class in person if you chose to come. For two class sessions, we met face to face. I could only fit 12 students in the classroom because of the social distancing rule. I also had students in other states so the risk of getting COVID could be reduced. These students will still have classes virtually. 

The first class was a repeat on how to order fractions using reasoning strategies. My students were given fraction tiles and could see the drawings better. I used the whiteboard feature on Zoom. However, there are a few glitches to it. My computer froze using it. Hand drawing models and giving real fraction pieces helped. This week's topic was adding and subtracting fractions using models. We used the area model and the number line. My students better understood the area model. However, I was determined to spend time with the number line methods. On Monday after Thanksgiving, we will have a study session online. I need to try the online manipulatives again because the final exam will be online. Pray for us!!!!

By the way, I made a short screencast of ordering fractions for them. If you wish to see it,  click on the link. The online fraction manipulatives were provided by Didax.

https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cYXuVYL8Kd

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