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Page 5: Using Software to Teach About Decimals
The previous page listed some suggestions about teaching decimal fraction concepts, including ideas for modeling. On this page a computer software program that will represent decimal numbers is described.
Hi-Flyer DecimalsThe program acts much like an electronic box of place-value blocks. Students can click on buttons to show blocks representing decimal numbers, then use various tools to manipulate the representations. By opening certain windows, the number can also be represented by the written symbol, a "numeral expander", and the number name in words. As the block representation is changed by adding or taking away blocks, the contents of each window changes simultaneously.
The capabilities of this software were demonstrated at the NCTM 1999 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Using the Computational Power of ComputersComputer-generated place-value blocks have a number of benefits compared to conventional physical blocks. These benefits include the following:
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References Clements, D. H., & McMillen, S. (1996). Rethinking "concrete" manipulatives. Teaching Children Mathematics, 2, 270-279. Price, P. S. (In process). Effects of two representational formats on the development of year 3 students' place-value understanding. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. © Peter Price, 1999 |