Numerical Intuition Training as a Potential Tool to Improve Children's Math Skills

儿童早期数学学习为多种科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）兴趣和职业奠定了基础。然而，孩子们在学校和家里的早期数学经历有很大的不同。这个项目探讨了孩子们在学习正式数学之前所拥有的数字直觉是否可以用来提高数学成绩。两项研究将探讨儿童的非正式数字直觉和正式数学之间的联系。第一项研究包括学龄前儿童执行加减法。第二项研究包括小学高年级儿童，对比率的理解以及这与分数的关系。数学教学的一个重要问题是如何将定量推理的直观方面与使用数学符号来表示数字和运算联系起来。该项目由NSF的EHR核心研究（ECR）计划支持。ECR项目强调基础STEM教育研究，产生该领域的基础知识。该项目的广泛目标是评估非符号数学运算的培训是否有助于等效符号运算的表现。先前的研究表明，原始数感是符号数学的基础。第一项研究考察了学龄前儿童的加减法。孩子们被展示如何将联合收割机点阵列结合在一个不精确的加法和减法近似值中，以评估这是否提高了符号加法和减法的性能。第二项研究考察了二年级和四年级学生的比率推理。本研究探讨是否培训与非象征性的，近似的比例推理有利于符号操作的比例，以及这与儿童的分数知识。这两项研究都采用了实验设计，将儿童随机分配到训练条件下，并包括测试前和测试后的数学知识评估（包括数字的符号和非符号表示）和执行功能。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Early mathematics learning for children provides the foundation for multiple Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) interests and careers. However, early math experiences in school and at home differ dramatically among children. This project explores whether the numerical intuition that children possess before they learn formal mathematics can be harnessed to improve math performance. Two studies will examine the connections between children's informal numerical intuition and formal mathematics. The first study includes pre-school children performing addition and subtraction. The second study includes upper elementary children, the understanding of ratios and how this relates to fractions. An important question for mathematics teaching and learning is how to connect intuitive aspects of quantitative reasoning with the use of math symbols to represent numbers and operations. This project is supported by NSF's EHR Core Research (ECR) program. The ECR program emphasizes fundamental STEM education research that generates foundational knowledge in the field.The broad goal of the project is to assess whether training with non-symbolic mathematical operations facilitates performance on the equivalent symbolic operations. Prior research suggests that primitive number sense is foundational for symbolic mathematics. The first study examines addition and subtraction in pre-school children. Children are shown how to combine dot arrays in an imprecise approximation of addition and subtraction to assess whether this improves symbolic addition and subtraction performance. The second study examines ratio reasoning in second and fourth grade students. This study investigates whether training with non-symbolic, approximate ratio reasoning facilitates symbolic manipulation of ratios and how this relates to children's knowledge of fractions. Both studies use an experimental design with randomized assignment of children to training conditions and include pre-test and post-test assessments of mathematical knowledge (including symbolic and non-symbolic representations of number) and executive function.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.