Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Welcome to the NECTAR Foundation's math software blog. My name is Rhéal Dumont and I am the Executive Director of the foundation. We are new to blogging but look forward to reading your thoughts on math software. We are particularly interested in your comments about our new math manipulative prototype for addition which can be found in the What's New section at http://www.nectar.ca/. We have been developing software since 1990 and have found that the best way to improve our programs is to listen to teachers' comments. Try the manipulative out and let us know what you think by adding comments to our blog. We are also interested in a title for the program.
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3 comments:
Hi Rheal: I tried the manipulative tool. I remember talking to Michel about it so it was cool to see it come to life! You have tackled a tough abstract concept with some success. I liked many features - and I guess it depends on how it will be used - but I thnik many aspects are too passive. Please let me explain. If a teacher is using this as a whole class demonstration and then students are given lots of examples and attempts to interact with the manipulative then I think it will be useful.
Here are some examples to explain why I think it is passive. Yes, the students have choice of numbers. Choice is good. But the next few clicks, the number is decomposed for the student. I didn't even notice the script above the columns; I think students will just keep on clicking without much thought in the process.
The next area of concern is the 'carrying' stage. The trade button appears. The students jsut have to click but do they know why? What about a 'lasso'that actively engages the student in the process of capturing the ten blocks and dumping them into the next place holder?
I wonder if a third row could be added to symbolize the gathering of the blocks? The images are already small so it would have to be even smaller. Probably not a good suggestion
These were a few thoughts. I liked the horizontal and vertical representation; the concrete to the abstract representation.
Hope this helps.
Helene,
Thanks for your feedback. I'll share your comments with our team to see if we can implement your suggestions.
So far the software is a prototype of a core manipulative component to be eventally embedded within a larger and interactive tutorial context. For now, without that context, it is most suited to use by a teacher as a teaching tool. It needs embellishment before it can become a learning tool for students.
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