The next category was the future teachers’
perceived impact of the activity. This is
evaluated by assessing their understanding
of the main lesson or goal that was emphasized
in the activity, as it relates to the concept
of equivalent fractions and fractions in
general. This category was divided into subcategories.
The main goal of this activity
was to provide a platform for the elementary
future teachers to connect the abstract notion
of mathematics with a fun-filled activity and
to relate the known concepts from class to
understand deeply the meaning of equivalent
fractions. The possible subcategory goals
were: understanding fractions by recognizing
whole; understanding the importance of
the whole in equivalent fractions; understanding
fractions in terms of area; understanding
fraction comparison; and general
comments (unconnected to the goal of the
service-learning activity) such as “fun activity/elementary
students were excited.”
About 42% of the future teachers perceived the activity in terms of understanding the
importance of a whole in the construction of
equivalent fractions. One future teacher
commented, “I think that kids got a better
understanding of what fractions were and
how different fractions can be equivalent
because they were able to physically see it.”