• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-78
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and perspectives on meanings and use of manipulatives in mathematics lessons. For the investigation, the researcher reviewed related literature and analyzed the perceptions of preservice teachers on the meanings and use of manipulatives in mathematics lessons. The participants were 75 preservice elementary school teachers who took a teaching practice course at the 1st or the 2nd semester in 2015. These preservice teachers observed mathematics lessons for two weeks during the student teaching periods. They were requested to observed the use of manipulatives in mathematics lessons and wrote about their ideas on the meanings and use of manipulatives. Result of the research was that the perceptions on the meanings and use of manipulatives from the preservice teachers' perspectives are as follows. Manipulatives in mathematics lessons were self-made or pre-made manufactures. The using time of manipulatives during lessons varies, and the teachers provide the manipulatives with contexts. Providing in-depth observation during a teaching practice course is allowed opportunities for preservice teachers to reflect their mathematics teaching and learning methods in the classroom.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.307-332
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• 2022

This action research was carried out to help students learn fractions computation by making and using semi-concrete fraction manipulatives that can be used continuously in math classes. For this purpose, the researcher and students made semi-concrete fraction manipulatives and learned how to use these through reviewing the previously learned fraction contents over 4 class sessions. Afterward, through the 14 classes (7 classes for learning to reduce fractions and to a common denominator, 7 classes for adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators) in which the principle inquiry learning model was applied, students actively engaged in learning activities with fraction manipulatives and explored the principles underneath the manipulations of fraction manipulatives. Students could represent various fractions using fraction manipulatives and solve fraction computation problems using them. The achievement evaluation after class found that the students could connect the semi-concrete fraction manipulatives with fraction representation and symbolic formulas. Moreover, the students showed interest and confidence in mathematics through the classes using fraction manipulatives.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.44 no.1 s.108
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• pp.125-141
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• 2005

For many years, the educational effects of instructional manipulatives in mathematics education have been investigated in classroom practice and educational research. This paper demonstrates how pattern block, a type of instructional manipulatives could be used and integrated in elementary mathematics areas in order to develop student's mathematical thinking Further, students' thinking process with pattern blocks is analysed to show their thinking process.

• School Mathematics
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.215-231
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• 2001

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the manipulatives in instruction of mathematics to those who have learning disabilities. Two middle school students who revealed very low achievements in the previous mathematics tests were involved in this study. Unit Cubes were used as the manipulatives, and the researchers utilized this manipulatives to teach the number bases. After a series of instructions utilizing the Unit Cubes, the subjects were interviewed with semi-structured form. In general, the effect of using the manipulatives were positive. Both subjects could understand much better with the Unit Cubes, and revealed affirmative results such as their positive attitudes toward mathematics.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.935-949
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of virtual manipulatives apps that can be used to teach students struggling to learn mathematics. To achieve this goal, ten general characteristics of 23 virtual manipulatives apps were evaluated. The instructional, interface, and interactive design features of apps were also evaluated on five-point scale ratings of 18 items. In addition, SPSS frequency analysis and the correlation between each feature was analyzed. Frequently presented instructional contents among 23 virtual manipulatives apps were geometry, arithmetic operation, number concept and measurement. The frequently presented level of instructional contents was lower grade elementary school and kindergarten age. The frequently presented instructional type was the simulation. Regarding the design features, instructional design was rated as the highest (mean = 3.7); interactive design (mean = 3.6) and interface design (mean = 3.3) were also rated higher than neural. In addition, as the learning strategy was appropriately presented, it was evaluated that there was less screen linkage and content error.

• School Mathematics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-51
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• 2000

In this study, we tried to suggest an example of the analysis on the use of mathematical manipulatives. Taking algebra tiles as an example of mathematical manipulatives, we analysed several effects resulted from the use of algebra tiles. The algebra tiles make it possible to do activities that are needed to introduce and explain the distributive law and factoring. The algebra tiles have a several advantages; First of all, This model is simple. Even though they cannot make algebra easy, this model can play an important role in the transition to a new algebra course. This model provides access to symbol manipulation for students who had previously been frozen out of the course because of their weak number sense. This model provides a geometric interpretation of symbol manipulation, thereby enriching students' understanding, This model supports cooperative learning, and help improve discourse in the algebra class by giving students objects to think with and talk about. On the other hand, The disadvantages of this model are as follows; the model reinforces the misconception that -x is negative, and x is positive; the area model of multiplication is not geometrically sound when minus is involved; only the simplest expressions involving minus can be represented; It is ineffective when be used the learning of already known concept. Mathematics teachers must have a correct understanding about these advantages and disadvantages of manipulatives. Therefore, they have to plan classroom work that be maximized the positive effect of manipulatives and minimized the negative effect of manipulatives.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.675-694
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were to investigate teachers' perceptions on process-focused mathematics assessment using manipulatives and technological devices and to propose the direction of the process-focused mathematics assessment. This study was conducted by the survey method with a total of 332 elementary and secondary school mathematics teachers working in Seoul or Gyeonggi areas who had experienced in using manipulatives and technological devices. According to the results, the use of manipulatives and technological devices in the process-focused mathematics assessment will facilitate the use of various alternative assessment methods such as research-report, project, and discussion for the process-focused mathematics assessment. Those alternative assessment methods enable teachers to diagnose students' learning in more accurate and holistic views and contribute to improving teachers' teaching practices focused on the mathematical process.

• School Mathematics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.459-474
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• 2000

It has been said that concrete materials are useful and necessary when children learn mathematics. But it has been proved by several researches teachers don’t often use them even if they agree that they are useful. This article focuses on the lack of systematic and applicable research on manipulatives. Therefore, it tries to identify the state of current research and to present the concrete domains which need more study in the future, in order to induce both qualitative and quantitative research. The following nine domains cover almost all the research on manipulatives so far affect of manipulatives on achievement. types of learners, mathematical topics, subjects of operation, variety of mainipulatives, instructional method, degree of involvement of mainpulatives in class, selection criteria, and place for use.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.207-219
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• 2004

There have been studies reporting the increase in student confidence in mathematics when using technology. However, past studies indicating a positive correlation between technology and confidence in mathematics do not explain why they see this positive outcome. With increased availability and easy access to the Internet in schools and the development of free online virtual manipulatives, this research was interested in how the use of virtual manipulatives in mathematics can affect students confidence in their mathematical abilities. Our hypothesis was that the classes using virtual manipulatives which allows students to connecting dynamic visual image with abstract symbols will help students gain a deeper conceptual understanding of math concept thus increasing their confidence and ability in mathematics. The participants in this study were 46 fifth-grade students in three ability groups: one high, one middle and one low. During a two-week unit on fractions, students in three groups interacted with several virtual manipulative applets in a computer lab. Data sources in the project included a pre and posttest of students mathematics content knowledge, Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale, field notes and student interviews, and classroom videotapes. Our aim was to find evidence for increased level of confidence in mathematics as students strengthened their understanding of fraction concepts. Results from the achievement score indicated an overall main effect showing significant improvement for all ability groups following the treatment and an increase in the confidence level from the preassessment of the Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale in the middle and high ability groups. An interesting finding was that the confidence level for the low ability group students who had the highest confidence level in the beginning did not change much in the final confidence scale assessment. In the middle and high ability groups, the confidence level did increase according to the improvement of the contest posttest. Through interviews, students expressed how the virtual manipulatives assisted their understanding by verifying their answers as they worked and facilitated their ability to figure out math concept in their mind and visually.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2001

Over the years, the benefits of instructional manipulatives in mathematics education have been verified by classroom practice and educational research. The purpose of this paper is to introduce how the instructional material, specifically, geoboard could be used and integrated in elementary mathematics classroom in order to develop student's mathematical concepts and process in terms of the following areas: (1) Number '||'&'||' Operation : counting, fraction '||'&'||' additio $n_traction/multiplication (2) Geometry : geometric concepts (3) Geometry : symmetry '||'&'||' motion (4) Measurement : area '||'&'||' perimeter (5) Probability '||'&'||' Statistics : table '||'&'||' graph (6) Pattern : finding patterns Further, future study will continue to foster how manipulatives will enhance children's mathematics knowledge and influence on their mathematics performance.