Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

Educational Studies

First Advisor

Michael M. Grant

Abstract

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of technology integration with multiplication concepts (i.e., repeated, arrays, and decomposing numbers) for struggling third grade mathematics students. This study incorporated the use of virtual manipulatives and student think-aloud recordings to measure students’ conceptual understanding of basic multiplication. This study focused on two overarching research questions: (1) The first question explored how technology integration with multiplication concepts (i.e., repeated addition, arrays, and decomposing numbers) impacted student understanding; and (2) the second question explored how students select and explain strategies for solving multiplication problems. Data collection consisted of teacher-made pre- and posttests with virtual manipulatives and student thinkaloud recordings. Data analysis incorporated an evaluative mixed-methods approach using objective assessment data with non-parametric tests and constant comparative method. After transcribing, reviewing, and coding data, overlapping themes emerged, including students’ conceptual understandings, students’ conceptual misunderstandings, and students’ correct methodology with careless errors. (Careless errors in this study refers to simple errors in counting or adding. In several cases, the students used virtual manipulatives to build the problems correctly but made errors when counting or adding the manipulatives). Findings revealed that virtual manipulatives significantly improved participants’ conceptual understandings of all three given multiplication strategies. The impact of vi virtual manipulatives is reflected in the increased percentages of students who demonstrated conceptual understanding of the three strategies from the end of week one to end of the innovation. Conceptual understanding for each of the strategies (i.e., repeated addition, arrays, and decomposing numbers) increased by 40 percent over the course of this innovation. In addition, the impact of virtual manipulatives and think-aloud recordings is reflected in the increase of correct scores from the pretest to posttest. Four Wilcoxon Signed-ranks tests were conducted for (1) overall pretest-posttest scores and the three specific strategies (2) repeated addition pretest-posttest scores, (3) arrays pretest-posttest scores, and (4) decomposing numbers pretest-posttest scores. All four tests were statistically significant with posttest scores higher than pretest scores. The student think-aloud self-recordings provided valuable insight into students’ developing conceptual understandings, and consequently helped guide and direct remediation throughout this innovation. By listening to their own recordings, students were able to evaluate their work, identify mistakes, and correct careless errors before turning in their recordings. Consequently, the think-aloud recordings promoted student self-reflection and were essential in providing specific, individualized instruction for all participants

Rights

© 2018, Mary E. Camp

Download

Share

COinS