Research on fostering learning about percentages within intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) is limited. Additionally, there is a lack of data-driven approaches for improving the design of ITS to facilitate learning about percentages. To address these gaps, we first investigated whether students' understanding of basic mathematical skills (eg,…

The aim of this study was to develop an instrument for assessing sixth-grade students' number sense skills in fractions and decimals. This study was conducted on 452 sixth graders (10-11 years old) from the western region of Turkey. The construct validity of the number sense test (NST) was examined via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and…

In prior work, we fit the mixture Rasch model to item responses from a fractions survey administered to a nationwide sample of middle grades mathematics teachers in the United States. The mixture Rasch model located teachers on a continuous, unidimensional scale and fit best with 3 latent classes. We used item response data to generate initial…

Rational numbers, such as fractions and decimals, are harder to understand than natural numbers. Moreover, individuals struggle with fractions more than with decimals. The present study sought to disentangle the extent to which two potential sources of difficulty affect secondary-school students' numerical magnitude understanding: number type…

Math problem solving frequently involves choices among alternative strategies. Strategy choices, and effects of problem features on strategy choices, both vary among individuals. We propose that individual differences in strategy choices can be well characterized in terms of parametric variation in three types of influence: global bias, relevant…

Students are indeed weak when it comes to understanding fractions and decimals. In line with the national curriculum, whole numbers and fractions are taught first before students start to learn decimals. By the time the students approach decimals, they should have acquired sufficient knowledge of whole numbers but limited knowledge of fractions.…

Procedural flexibility is an important skill for algebra. Although prior work has focused on measuring students' procedural flexibility using arithmetic problems, word problems may also capture students' flexibility because of their open-ended nature. To date, no published study has examined the use of word problems as another measure of…

Competence with rational numbers is essential for mathematics proficiency in secondary mathematics. However, many students struggle with rational number concepts, and students with mathematics difficulties struggle even more. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an intervention that incorporated the use of explicit instruction…

This study explores the identification of discourse communities within mathematics education using factor analysis. Given the exponential growth in mathematics education research, understanding the evolving dialogues within the field has become increasingly challenging. This study employs a systematic literature review, examining the landscape of…

Building proficiency with fraction arithmetic poses a consistent challenge for students with learning difficulties or disabilities in mathematics. This article illustrates how teachers can use the number line model to support struggling learners in making sense of fraction arithmetic. Number lines are a powerful tool that can be used to help…

Many U.S. students possess only a weak knowledge of fraction arithmetic. I hypothesize that textbooks are a critical reason for students' poor performance on fraction arithmetic. This is not because of what textbooks contain but rather because of what they lack. Distributions of fraction arithmetic problems in textbooks are imbalanced, with…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the concrete-representational-abstract--integrated (CRA-I) sequence on students with learning disabilities' performance when learning fraction and decimal concepts. Three elementary-level students in Grades 4 and 6 participated in a single-case multiple probe across behaviors study. The…

Decimals and the related areas of ratio and proportion are recognised as one of the most challenging and complex areas of mathematics for young children to learn. In this study, four dynamic digital representations were used by Year 4 (9-10 years old) students in a set of video-recorded, individual task-based interviews to explore key concepts of…

The intention of the study was to examine the effects of a fraction intervention in a whole-class environment. The intervention aimed to enhance students' conceptual fraction knowledge, with a major focus on fraction magnitude understanding. This study included 120 fifth-grade students in standard classroom settings. Utilizing a cluster randomized…

Fraction is considered one of the main topics in mathematics in the early years. Many students struggle to progress in fractions in the classrooms and on exams. Teaching strategies are among the most important factors affecting student learning of fractions. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of virtual and concrete…