Educational Research and Reviews

  • Abbreviation: Educ. Res. Rev.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1990-3839
  • DOI: 10.5897/ERR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2008

Full Length Research Paper

Identifying the concept “fraction” of primary school students: The investigation in Vietnam

Nguyen Phu Loc*
  • Nguyen Phu Loc*
  • School of Education, Can Tho University, Vietnam.
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Duong Huu Tong
  • Duong Huu Tong
  • School of Education, Can Tho University, Vietnam.
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Phan Thai Chau
  • Phan Thai Chau
  • Trung An 1 Primary School, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 17 March 2017
  •  Accepted: 13 April 2017
  •  Published: 23 April 2017

Abstract

In Vietnam, primary school students explicitly learn the concept of fraction in Grade 4 and 5. Because this concept is introduced to them intuitionally, it is difficult for them to understand and apply it. Base on this point, we believe that the students will commit many errors when solving exercises related to this concept. The survey of 478 students showed that some remarkable errors were made by most students; when learning fractions, students still did not understand the nature of fractions as well as the equality of parts. Therefore, teachers should note the errors of students, and use the effective pedagogical measures to help them prevent, and correct the errors.

Key words: Fraction, teaching and learning fraction, mathematics in primary schools, mathematics education.