Pattern Blocks, Area, and Content Acquisition
Keywords:
pattern blocks, manipulatives, preservice teachers, fractionsAbstract
This study examined the results of a pre-test and a post-test, as well as a post-test survey, that covered problems focusing on non-unit areas represented by pattern blocks. The solutions presented are examined for dependence by the pre-service teacher participants to rely on algebraic means to solve the pictorial problems as well as looking into their experience working with manipulatives. Their results, looked at in the context of manipulative use in the United States and internationally, is discussed.