Mathematics Manipulatives Program Critique

Manipulative Assisted Mathematics

Manipulative assisted mathematics uses the constructivism theory of learning , whereby the learning process is active and self - directed as much as the relationship between the learner and his or her environment (Fitscher , 2008 . With this learning principle , the learner does not just serve as a direct destination of the defined lesson as delivered by a teacher , rather an active participant with the construction of the lesson . More than the lesson being imparted is the learner , whose mind is not empty , who will process the accommodation and absorption of those

knowledge , utilizing individual mechanism to use the existing knowledge to be integrated with the new ones , by internalizing or personalizing ' the knowledge . Constructivist mathematics emphasizes on how mathematical principles are absorbed by the students and not how they were presented by the teacher . The integration of knowledge through individual learning mechanism of a learner promotes deeper understanding of mathematical concepts (Lee , 2001

Today , with the help of modern information systems , the constructivist theory of learning has been better realized , especially for mathematics Manipulative assisted mathematics is sometimes associated with virtual manipulative and computer - assisted learning . The dynamics of the learning has been made easier with the help of computers in classrooms

Info Use , in cooperation with NASA , developed manipulative assisted mathematics activities for student with disability . The activities which could be accessed from the link HYPERLINK "http /www .planemath .com " http /www .planemath .com , mainly focus on mathematical problem - solving skills . Aside from the ability of the activity...