The Analysis of 3rd Graders Multiplicative Thinking

The purpose of this study is to analyze 3rd graders’ thinking about multiplication by using eye tracking techniques. The researchers presented 1-digit multiplication questions along with a visual representation and then asked the participants whether the multiplication and the visual representations were equivalent. For the pre-test, we tracked 13 students and selected 7 students who had additive thinking about multiplication. 4-weeks of instruction was carried out to ensure they understand the meaning of multiplication. After the instruction we tracked their eye movements with the similar 1-digit multiplication tests. The students’ eye tracking data showed that their thinking about multiplication changed from additive thinking to multiplicative thinking. Through the eye tracking technique, we can clearly identify changes of students’ thinking about multiplication.