Using Calculator-Assisted Instruction to Enhance Low-Achievers in Learning Number Sense: A Case Study of Two Fifth Graders in Taiwan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to use calculator-assisted instruction to help two fifth-grade low-achievers learn number sense. The research process includes three stages: (1) pre-test interview to detect what kinds of number sense the students did not have; (2) calculator-assisted instruction to help them develop number sense; and (3) post-test interview to examine if their number sense had improved. The results showed that students successfully developed two kinds of number sense abilities they did not have in the pre-test interview. However, they failed to develop the number sense ability of using a benchmark number to make an estimation. Generally, this study illustrated that these two low-achievers could learn number sense from calculator-assisted instruction.

An analysis of number sense skills of Syrian immigrant students by gender and duration of stay

“…As can be seen from these results, the length of time students stay in Turkey creates notable differences in their number sense performance, but it still does not change the fact that most of the students are at a low level. In the literature, for example, the general number sense success rate was reported as 46.00% by , 34.00% by , 20.00% by Yang and Lin (2015), 24.00%-30.00% by Akkaya (2016); there are a number of other studies (Caglar, 2021;Markovits & Sowder, 1994;Reys et al, 1999;Verschaffel et al, 2007;Yapici & Kayhan Altay, 2017) whose results were in parallel with those of the current study. On the other hand, Chen et al (2015) examined the number sense performances among 4 th , 5 th , and 6 th grade local students, recent immigrants, and those with low socioeconomic levels in Taiwan, finding that new immigrant students in 6th grade had better number sense performances compared to other students.…”