The Influence of Instructional Aids on Mathematics Achievement

Comparing computer versus concrete manipulatives in learning 2D geometry

“…A possible reason for this lack of improvement might be the short intervention time. Longer intervention time with extensive use of manipulatives may produce different results (Sowell, 1989;Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989).…”

“…According to Sowell (1989), long-term use of concrete materials was clearly superior to symbolic instruction encompassing specific topics and the entire mathematics curriculum, especially in early elementary grades. Additionally, teachers reporting greater use of a variety of instructional aids in teaching school mathematics also reported greater course coverage (Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989). The extensive use of instructional aids was found strongly related to the student achievement in some topics such as geometry, ratio, proportion, and percent, surprisingly however it was found virtually unrelated to the student achievement in measurement (Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989).…”

“…Additionally, teachers reporting greater use of a variety of instructional aids in teaching school mathematics also reported greater course coverage (Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989). The extensive use of instructional aids was found strongly related to the student achievement in some topics such as geometry, ratio, proportion, and percent, surprisingly however it was found virtually unrelated to the student achievement in measurement (Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989). As Clements (1999) argued, as long as a manipulative makes sense for a topic it is beneficial.…”

Lärares och elevers användande av laborativt material i bråkundervisningen i skolår 4-6 : Vad görs möjligt för eleverna att erfara?

“…Tidigare studier (exempelvis Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989;Sowell, 1989) visar att elevers lärande i matematik är förknippat med lärarnas erfarenhet av att använda laborativt material. De lärare som observerats i föreliggande studie hade, enligt egna uppgifter, erfarenhet av att undervisa med hjälp av laborativt material.…”

Complete Issue

“…However, most of the research points towards the use of manipulatives as a positive tool to improve student learning within mathematics (Parham, 1983;Raphael & Wahlstrom, 1989;Sowell, 1989;Suydam & Higgins, 1979). Suydam and Higgins (1977) observed, "the overall point remains, however; far more of the studies favor the use of materials than favor non-use of materials" (p. 18).…”