$39.50
Four components, plus fraction screen saver is
included.
Screen saver is installed in demo download,
but you must set it in Control Panel > Display > Screen
Saver.
The
first component presents multiplying proper
fractions.
Each
problem is illustrated to develop an intuitive sense of
multiplying two fractions.
The first
decision is whether or not cancellation is possible.
If this decision is made correctly, the student continues
with the next step (which depends on whether or not cancellation
is possible).
If necessary,
help is given with any step that was done incorrectly.
Here, the
decision to not cancel was made correctly, but the multiplication
was done incorrectly.
This
example shows how the program helps when the student has difficulty
with the cancellation decision, and with canceling itself.
Notice
how the student must complete the current task correctly before
proceeding to the next.
In
this example, the cancellation was performed incorrectly
in one of the four entries.
Help is given in determining the greatest common factor.
If more help is needed, it will be given.
Notice
how the program moves the student through each step (the
button changes, as well as where entries may be made).
A reward
movie is played throughout the program,
after completing an multiplication or division correctly.
This example
is one of many reward movies
(you might need to refresh this page to see the animation).
Multiplying
Mixed Numbers
The
second component of the program is multiplying mixed numbers
.
The student
must first convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.
If this is done correctly, the next step appears.
If the conversion is done incorrectly, more help is given.
Then cancellation is done, if possible.
(The student makes the same decision about cancellation as
in multiply proper fractions, described above.)
After
multiplying correctly, an improper fraction must now be
converted into a mixed number.
Help
is given, if needed.
Dividing
Proper Fractions
This is
the third component of the program.
There
are introductory movies throughout the fraction program.
The introductory movie is especially helpful in division of
fractions, because it shows a simple fraction division problem
by illustration.
Then the abstract way of computation is described.
In the
interactive part of the program, the student must first
invert the divisor.
Help is given, if needed.
The
student decides whether or not canceling can be done.
As
in multiplying fractions, help is given with this decision,
if the student does not make the correct decision.
Throughout
the program, the student CANNOT proceed to the next step until
performing the current one correctly.
In the
example below, the steps were performed correctly.
In the
example below, more help was needed in the final mixed number
conversion.
Extra
color coded help (see below) was given after a second error
in converting to a mixed number.
Throughout
my entire fraction program, the student's attention is immediately
aroused if a denominator of 0 is entered anywhere.
A
screen appears, flashing alternately red and yellow, with
a sound that causes children to jump.
The
next screen illustrates why division by zero is undefined.
Dividing
Mixed Numbers
The
fourth component of this program gives practice dividing mixed
numbers. Final answers must be converted to mixed numbers,
if necessary.
As
in multiplying mixed numbers, the student must first convert
to improper fractions.
Help is
given wherever the student needs it.
Throughout
the program, the student CANNOT proceed to the next step until
performing the current one correctly.
The entire program is designed to get the student through
each step correctly, even if multiple errors are made.
Then the
divisor must be inverted correctly.
When
a step is completed correctly, the next step appears.
Help
is given (as illustrated in examples above) when a step
is performed incorrectly.
I
wrote this entire program so that a teacher may feel confident
letting the student work independently, knowing that the
process is being taught correctly, with ample assistance
wherever needed.
Scores
are awarded throughout the program.
The
points for each problem increase as the student moves to
more difficult levels of the program.
Points are lost for incorrect entries, but the student never
"goes in the hole."
When
a student completes a set of problems, he or she may enter
the Hall of Fame.
The top ten scores are displayed.
Additional
information about this program is included on the Fraction
Package page.
You will need to go to the Programs
page and choose Fraction Package.
You must go through the programs page, because of how my shopping
cart has been programmed.
$39.50
Screen saver is included.
Screen saver is installed in demo download,
but you must set it in Control Panel > Display > Screen
Saver.
Maple
Tree Learning Center Multiply and Divide Fractions Interactive Math
Program
