Navigating Ratios and Proportions in a Project-Based Learning Environment
Maggie Lee McHugh, La Crosse Design Institute, La Crosse, Wisconsin, collaborating with Jennifer J. Kosiak, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
This research study focuses on how students learn to apply ratio and proportional relationships in authentic situations. Guided by the newly released Principles to Actions: Ensuring Success for All Students (NCTM, 2014), this project seeks to integrate the stands of Teaching and Learning Curriculum with a focus on students applying mathematics through real-world connections. Specifically, this study will focus on how sixth grade students navigate a Project-Based Learning Environment as they engage in projects on ratio and proportional relationships, addressing the following research questions:
What is the impact of student understanding of ratio and proportional relationships after teacher-led and student-designed projects?
What is the level of rigor of student application and justification of ratio and proportional relationships in their student-designed projects?
To what extent do students believe they can “learn mathematics through exploring and solving contextual and mathematical problems” (NCTM, 2014, p.11)?