Proposed Session Title
K-8 Preservice Teachers’ Common Errors in Measurement Unit Conversion Problems
Location
Gas Building #2
Session Information
Research-reporting session
Abstract of proposed session
K-8 preservice teachers (PSTs) in a mathematics content course have struggled with measurement unit conversion problems (MUCPs), especially two-dimensional MUCPs (e.g., 9 ft2 = __ yd2). Previous research has seldom reported on error analysis, task design, or instructional strategies regarding two-dimensional MUCPs. A few studies have investigated PSTs’ errors in one-dimensional MUCPs and interpreted possible causes as place value deficiency, lack of understanding of metric system measurement units, misconceptions about relationships between measurement units, and uncertain knowledge of ratio (Livy & Vale, 2011; Morris, 2001; Southwell & Penglase, 2005).
This study aims to investigate PSTs’ errors in both one- and two-dimensional MUCPs. Data includes test items of 38 PSTs enrolled in a Foundations of Data and Geometry course. PSTs’ error analysis will be shared along with their potential misconceptions.
Keywords
Unit Conversion, Measurement, K-8 Preservice Teacher Education, Dimensional Analysis, Error Taxonomy
Start Date
10-16-2019 11:20 AM
End Date
10-16-2019 11:45 AM
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, Ha; Stehr, Eryn M.; and An, Tuyin, "K-8 Preservice Teachers’ Common Errors in Measurement Unit Conversion Problems" (2019). Georgia Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (GAMTE) Annual Conference. 1.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gamte/2019/2019/1
K-8 Preservice Teachers’ Common Errors in Measurement Unit Conversion Problems
Gas Building #2
K-8 preservice teachers (PSTs) in a mathematics content course have struggled with measurement unit conversion problems (MUCPs), especially two-dimensional MUCPs (e.g., 9 ft2 = __ yd2). Previous research has seldom reported on error analysis, task design, or instructional strategies regarding two-dimensional MUCPs. A few studies have investigated PSTs’ errors in one-dimensional MUCPs and interpreted possible causes as place value deficiency, lack of understanding of metric system measurement units, misconceptions about relationships between measurement units, and uncertain knowledge of ratio (Livy & Vale, 2011; Morris, 2001; Southwell & Penglase, 2005).
This study aims to investigate PSTs’ errors in both one- and two-dimensional MUCPs. Data includes test items of 38 PSTs enrolled in a Foundations of Data and Geometry course. PSTs’ error analysis will be shared along with their potential misconceptions.
