Thursday, November 17, 2016

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives for Math Educational Applications


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NLVM

Please see attached link:  http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

As I have discussed in recent posts, manipulatives are an effective low-tech aid for teaching math concepts.  Additionally, online manipulatives can increase a students access to this important option for visual representation of conceptual mathmetical problems.

The NLVM offers five different virtual strands of manipulative options for students from Pre-K to 12th grade which include Number and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability.  In some cases, the same manipulative can be included for students in all grade levels. For example, the abacus is included in the Number and Operations strand for all age groups. The abacus dates to the middle ages and is a device made of a frame set with various rods on which beads are moved to make calculations. 

The abacus can be an effective tool for all learners of all ages, even very young children. For example, use of the abacus could support the following Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood (Pre Kindergarten):

KEY LEARNING AREA: Mathematical Thinking and Expression – Exploring, Processing, and Problem-Solving 
Standard Area 2.1: Numbers and Operations 
Standard Area 2.2: Algebraic Concepts
Standard Area 2.3: Geometry 
Standard Area 2.4: Measurement, Data, and Probability 

The abacus would be an excellent tool to use to teach counting skills to Pre-Kindergarten students. The abacus has 10 rows and 10 beads on each row. To teach number sequence, each wire could be assigned a number from 1 to 10 and the corresponding number of beads could be moved from left to right on each wire row. When completed, students will have benefited from actually moving objects tactically and also seeing the progression of 1 to 10 visually. Thus, the abacus would also support the Universal Design principle of multiple means of representation.


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