Effects of Enhanced Representations in Digital Mathematics Practice Items

Purpose: In this project, the research team will explore how to improve the design of practice items in a digital learning platform (ASSISTments/E-TRIALS) so that they better support students' conceptual and procedural knowledge of proportional reasoning. Students' reasoning about situations involving ratios, rates, and proportions is deeply tied to their understanding of fractions, measurement, functions, and algebra as well as complex topics in statistics, biology, and physics. Despite its importance, many students are not achieving proficiency in proportional reasoning and need additional support for integrating conceptual and procedural knowledge. The research team will explore how to improve the design of math practice items along two dimensions. First, they will consider how models such as tables, tape diagrams, double number lines, graphs, and equations may help students reason about real-world, mathematical problems. Second, they will explore whether incorporating an emphasis on real world context improves students' conceptual understanding.