Promoting Technology Uses in the Elementary Mathematics Classroom: Lessons in Pedagogy from Zoltan Dienes

摘要

Today technology allows for the utilization of new classes of mathematical objects which are themselves subject to new modes of student interaction. A series of notable examples may be found in the National Library of Virtual Manipula-tives. These virtual manipulatives draw much of their power from their physical embodiment in the form of hand-on materials which are currently an essential part of the elementary mathematics classroom. In preparing teacher candidates to make use of these new manipulative-based virtual resources the writings of Zoltan Dienes and his views on manipulatives in instruction were explicitly referenced in one of our elementary mathematics methods courses. Dienes is probably most widely known for his multi-base blocks, known as Dienes blocks, which he created for teaching of place value. These manipulatives are widely used in elementary instruction - particularly in their base ten forms. His insight into the creation and use of manipulatives is also evident in his seminal algebraic materials and logic blocks. These, together with the base blocks, were foundational in establishing current uses of manipulatives in teaching and learning mathematics. The samples of his work and theories used in this study centered on how mathematics can be developed from the early grades onwards using multiple embodiments through manipulatives, games, stories and dance.Following their interaction with Dienes and his ideas, based upon student comment and professor observation, these teacher candidates demonstrated greater insight into both traditional manipulatives and the technology-enabled virtual manipulative than past groups lacking this exposure. Student comments indicate that the discussion of the base ten blocks had powerful and personally meaningful connections with their own experiences as learners. By reminding the students of their own experiences as a learner it helped them better address their future role as teacher using both traditional and technology enabled manipulatives.