Mobile-Supported Blended Learning for Fractions: Enhancing Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge in Primary School Students
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Abstract
This study explores the impact of a blended learning approach on fifth-grade students’ conceptual and procedural knowledge of fractions. A quasi-experimental design was implemented with 130 fifth grade students from public primary schools in socio-economically homogeneous areas of Heraklion, Crete (control group: n = 64; experimental group: n = 66). The intervention combined mobile-accessible H5P interactive tasks designed on e-Me learning platform, featuring dynamic environments in Geogebra, with hands-on activities using manipulatives and student-constructed models. Emphasis was placed on collaborative learning and verbal articulation of reasoning. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests revealed significant within-group improvements in both groups. However, the experimental group showed greater gains. Mann–Whitney U tests confirmed that improvements in conceptual and procedural knowledge were significantly higher in the experimental group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.008, respectively), with moderate effect sizes. These findings suggest that the blended learning approach substantially supports fraction learning by bridging conceptual and procedural aspects of knowledge. The use of browser-based, open-source software proved effective in creating personalised, engaging learning experiences. This study contributes to the growing discussion on technology-enhanced fraction learning by presenting a flexible, learner-centered approach that empowers teachers to design contextually responsive fraction learning experiences.
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References
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