Student Skills

Developing an Algorithm for Fraction Multiplication

This video is of a student or students demonstrating a skill. The focus is students' use and flexibility with skills.

The video was shot in the same week, when students were studying Bits and Pieces II, Investigation 3 for CMP2 (Let's Be Rational, Investigation 2 is the CMP3 equivalent).

As you view the video, consider the following:

• What skill is the student demonstrating?
• When did the student learn this skill?
• Is the student proficient?
• Is the algorithm traditional? Mathematically correct?
• How does this skill relate to either the meaning of fractions or multiplying fractions (the focus of Bits and Pieces II, Inv. 3)?
• In what setting has the skill arisen—homework, a new problem or some other setting?
• Does the student seem confident? Is he/she making sense?
• Has the teacher chosen to include this skill practice at an appropriate time? (See Teri’s reflection for Day 3.)
• Are there occasions when students are seen using procedural skills without any relation to developing conceptual knowledge?
• What value is there in practicing procedural skills for their own sake?

Full Length Video (26.32) or Video Clips by Chapter (length varies)