LESSON 15: MANIPULATIVE MEDIA

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827)

First person who strongly believed and advocated the use of hands-on learning
or manipulative. Specifically as an educational tool

Maria Tecla Artemesia Montessori (1870-1952)

Her gifts are multisensory, sequential and self-correcting materials

“Montessori Method of Learning”

Stresses development of a child’s own initiative and natural abilities, especially
through practical play.

Pestalozzi Method

Learning by Head, Heart, and Hand

Jean Piaget (1896-1980)

Says, children must first construct knowledge through “concrete operations”
before moving on to “formal operations”

Main Function of Manipulative

1. Connect ideas and concept to physical objects

2. Promote better understanding

Types of Manipulative Media

• Real Objects

• Models

• Field Trips

Real Object

Most accessible and involving material in educational use

Attribute Blocks

Attribute blocks can be used to teach sorting, patterns, and identifying
attributes.

Two-Color Counters

It can be used to introduce students to basic ideas of probability.

Color Cubes

It helps the children through hands-on exploration of basic mathematics and geometric relationships as they stack, count, sort, and work with patterns.

Pattern Blocks

Pattern Blocks make it possible for the shapes to nest together and provides for a wide range of explorations.

Models

Three-dimensional representations of a real thing

Real Objects and Models

Encourage the students to handle and manipulate the objects and model

Field Trips

Students can encounter phenomena that can’t be brought into the classroom

Advantage of Concrete Manipulative

Allows information to be received visually and kinesthetically

Disadvantage of Concrete Manipulative

No feedback on whether you are right or wrong

Digital/Virtual Manipulative

Enable physical objects to move, sense, and interact with one another, as a
result, make systems – related concepts more salient to (can be manipulated by)
children

Concrete vs Virtual Manipulatives

Virtual manipulatives are more practical for teachers than concrete manipulatives due to issues on homeroom management

Advantage of Digital Manipulative

Involves problem solving skills

Disadvantage of Digital Manipulative

Made lead to misconception of some ideas (color, size, etc.)