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Making Math Second Nature

Some of our knowledge of the world is so well ingrained in us, that we don’t even have to think about it.

Consider a chair, for example. When we see a chair, we know immediately what it is and how to sit on it. We even know different ways to sit depending on if it’s a stool or an easy chair or a beanbag. And this is all automatic, without thinking about it.

Our brain has rich networks of information, called schemas, about chairs (and many other things). These schemas are created in the brain when we learn through the perception-action cycle. That’s what neuroscientists call the process in the brain where humans observe something in the world around them, decide to take action on their environment, and then perceive the results of that action.

We can kickstart the perception-action cycle in classrooms, and make it so that in math class, students know as readily what to do with a fraction problem as what to do with their desk chair.

To do so, students need to perceive the problem, take action and see the result of that action --- over and over again, strengthening the neural networks around that piece of understanding.

Manipulatives are a great way to put students’ perception-action cycle to work. And now, digital manipulatives are making it easier than ever to give students hands-on learning opportunities in class.  Following are some real-world examples of how this can be done using ST Math’s interactive puzzles.

Two-step Addition and Subtraction

Second graders encounter two-step addition and subtraction problems for the first time in ST Math, not as a series of symbols and numbers, but as a situation where boxes are being pushed by a bulldozer. The scenario resembles activities often done with physical manipulatives like counting cubes. But in this case, digital manipulatives offer an advantage: individualized informative feedback for each student -- a type of one-to-one interaction that’s difficult to achieve with physical manipulatives in a classroom setting. Students

  • Observe that along the way, some boxes will be added and some taken away
  • Decide how many boxes there will be at the end of the route
  • Takes action by highlighting the number of boxes that they think will be left.
  • See the results (how many boxes are left) after the bulldozer moves across the screen. If they chose the wrong answer, they will see the extra box left over or missing, and JiJi the penguin will not be able to cross the screen
  • Adjust their answer next time.

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Addition and Subtraction with Fractions

Addition and subtraction with fractions is notoriously challenging for many students. The JiJi Cycle puzzle puts two digital manipulatives in play -- portions of a circle that represent fractions of a whole, and a number line. Students

  • Observe two or more fractions of a circle stacked along the unicycle-like pole
  • Decide what those fractions add up to
  • Take action by sliding the balloon platform along the number line to where they think JiJi the penguin will land.
  • See the results when the puzzle animates and JiJi either lands on the platform and lifting off into the sky, or ending up on one side of the platform, having overshot or undershot the mark.
  • Adjust their answer based on their improved understanding.

By invoking both the circles and the number line, the game fosters knowledge transfer between the concept fractions of a circle and a number.  

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Exponentiation

Exponential growth is one concept that is nearly impossible to teach with physical manipulatives in a classroom because of the logistical burden. But digital manipulatives make it easy and fun to model exponentiation. In the middle school game Exponents, students

  • Observe a pattern of circles grouped in a way that helps reveal their exponential growing pattern
  • Decide what number the circles are being multiplied by
  • Take action by clicking on that number several times
  • See the results as the screen zooms out to reveal the growing pattern, based on their selections.
  • Adjust their answer next time, if their design doesn’t match the original.

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See the Math and Grow

Digital manipulatives, like ST Math overall, allow students to see the math, take action, and perceive the results of those actions right away.  Evoking the brain’s powerful learning mechanism, the perception-action cycle, creates strong schemas around mathematical knowledge. When students have deep, conceptual understanding of the math, their mathematical thinking comes more quickly and easily, allowing them to devote greater amounts of brainpower to the kinds of challenging multi-step problem solving that makes them successful not only in math class, but in life.

Christine Byrd

About the Author

Christine Byrd writes about STEM and education issues for MIND Research Institute.

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