6 responses so far ↓

• 1 Holli Cooper // Sep 16, 2008 at 9:12 pm

  My only question or comment is that I guess this makes it look like there is only one way to get the prime factors. For example, the screen shot above is for 88. What if the student started with 8 x 11 and then worked from there? I would like this better if you got to pick what set of factors you started with. I can’t assume that every student will start with 2 x 44. I really like the “tree” and “leaves” analogy though!

• 2 admin // Sep 17, 2008 at 6:55 pm

  Hi,

  Thanks again for the input – I think people’s suggestions and ideas are the best way to refine the resources I produce and it is why the website is structured to allow comments.

  Yes I fully agree with you about the limitation of this resource. One of the things that I’m really learning as I make these resources is that its often impossible to cover all options and keep the resource simple enough to use with an IWB in front of the class. Here is the design justifications for the result:-

  I held this resource back for while as I tried to balance it. What I wanted was the potential to choose a number and just have a factor tree instantly on the IWB to allow speedy/simple teaching. I don’t really like the resource to require much thought to use as then it places more load on the teacher than it provides benefit.

  Depending on how I program the computer to find the prime factors some numbers will always generate a tree different to one a person might naturally create. So the solution to this is to allow the user to pick the factors but this removes the speediness of the resource and adds more buttons to the screen (as the resources are for the IWB I try to never require acces to the keyboard). My feeling was that perhaps the most logical way to create a factor tree manually with the most appropriate factors was actually to just draw it the old fashioned way with pen and board. Adding an electronic resource in this case is really using a tool that isn’t required. The only way I can see an elctronic resource working that lets the teacher choose the factors is quite cumbersome. It would involve punching in number after number on an on-screen interface. Writing is much more natural for this.

  However where the teacher just wants to get the prime factors on screen, with some obscured, as the class work through one way to get the primes then an electronic resource has an advantage over pen and board as its quick and has a ready made tree to follow. It loses flexibility but gains convenience. I think this gives it quite a narrow focus and makes it more of a supporting resource, but one that has uses as opposed to one that is broader but is adequately served by traditional methods.

  This reply isn’t to defend the resource, I’ll happily rework it and if it resulted in the last word in teaching factor trees it would be worth it!

  I hope that outlining the thinking might result in a good idea for adjusting it or might suggest an entirely different resource better suited to the subject – one that is the last word in prime factor tree teaching!

  Further suggestions welcome from everyone.

  Spencer

• 3 Leanne Robson // Mar 30, 2009 at 9:14 pm

  This is great and really clear – much better than the other online resource I have been using to support teaching this – thanks

• 4 Lauren aquilina // Aug 21, 2009 at 11:38 pm

  It is cool and my class loves it I’d just wish I could play it somehow. Can you tell me how please.

• 5 admin // Aug 21, 2009 at 11:53 pm

  Not sure what you are having difficulty with. Could you explain more please?

  Spencer

• 6 wagner // Oct 5, 2009 at 6:14 pm

  i think u should make game where the person thinks of a number for the prime factor tree they put t in the box and let them try and get the right answer and if they dont give the right answer and explain it for tem

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