Dirt Bike Comparing Fractions

Suitable for Recreation, Not Classroom Instruction
JB01992

This application does a nice job of using technology effectively. The "tug-of-war" aspect is not something that could be recreated without the technology used. However, I would not recommend this application for use in a classroom because it does not effectively help students learn the concept of comparing fractions. Students are simply faced with problem after problem, but do not understand why one fraction is larger than the other. It also does not alert students when they get a problem incorrect and does not provide a justification for the correct answer. Providing visuals or manipulatives for each problem so that students can work out which fraction is larger would be one way to imporve this app and to help students gain a solid conceptual understanding when comparing fractions. I would also not recommend this application for use in a classroom because I believe it could possibly create math anxiety. This app requires a quick response from children while they are trying to compare fractions with unlike denominators. Forcing students to compare fractions with this small response time will most likely lead to students creating negative attitudes toward the subject of fractions, or worse, lead to students moving away from the mathematical concept by simply guessing in order to win the tug-of-war.