My Little Research Results...

The survey that I created regarding Math teachers use of Virtual Manipulatives has been analyzed and the following results were shown:

Suvveys sent to 45-  16 teachers responded

The results can only be based on those that responded.

Q1- What grade level do you teach Math?
            4- Primary
            4- Elementary
            4- Jr. High
            4- Sr. High

Q2- Do you use any manipulatives in your math lessons?
             100% use manipulatives in their math lessons.

Q3- In what approach do you use manipulative in your math classroom?
            100% Teacher Modelling (demonstrations in front of the students)
            100% Student Modelling (individual students use)
            93.8% Student Need (use with students who require additional support)
            68.8% Evaluation (during student-teacher conferences)

Q4- What types of manipulatives have you used in your classroom?
           =  playing cards, spinners, tangrams, square tiles, connector straws, faction pies, meter sticks, shapes, mirrors, fraction pieces, interlocking cubes miras integer tiles, Unifix cubes,  mini clocks, counters, dice, pattern blocks, Fraction tiles, Smart board, Algebra Tiles, Link Blocks, protractors, rulers, calculators, place value mats, geoboards, links, pattern blocks,  graphing mat, ten frames, Cuisinaire Rods, plastic chain links, coloured squares, number balance,  measuring cups, base ten blocks, tangrams, popsicle sticks, individual white boards, coins, metre sticks, newspapers, cardboard tubes, spinners, geometric solids, counters, geometric solids, attribute blocks,  fraction bars

Q5- Have you ever used Virtual Manipulatives in your classroom? (Virtual manipulatives are interactive web based representations of concrete manipulatives that students can manipulate and move in a similar manor)
          81.3% YES
          18.8% NO

Q6 - How did the students respond to the use of Virtual Manipulatives?

  (13 responded) - Sample Answers          

"some enjoyed some played", "

"They like it but it is not something they can take back to their seat.

                        (Unless in the computer room)" 

"They loved them! students love to come to the smart board and move objects!"

Q7- What were some of the benefits, as a teacher, to using Virtual Manipulatives?

    (13 responded) - Sample Answers

"There is enough for everyone. They take up no space, they can be projected easier, the

     kids can use them at home, they have only one function"             

"Observing students using them as a way of evaluation and understanding if the concepts

     of a certain topic is met."

"Students were engaged for longer periods of time, especially those with needs."

"Able to appeal to all kinds of learners and shows a different perspective"

"Instant engagement...may or may not be lasting...novel, as of yet"

Q8- Manipulatives in your lessons?

     (12 responded)
Generally any issues were with computer issues of Internet or computer malfunctions

Q9- What are some of the sites you have used to access Virtual Manipulatives?

  (11 responded)
2 most popular were the NLVM and NCTM illuminations     

This survey was a nice way to see teachers of different grade levels use of manipulatives. (I am unable to identify those that didn't respond to specific questions- therefore I am unable to determine grade level suitability for manipulatives and if there was one grade level that did not respond to the various questions)

The survey revealed a few things to me:

1- Teachers are using manipulatives in the classroom k-12

     (level of use undetermined)

2- Teachers (some) have used virtual manipulatives

3- Teachers see the advantages of virtual manipulatives, and were

    similar to the research that I shared in earlier postings.

4- Limitations are technology based- often out of everyday

    teachers control (Internet, computer malfunctions)

Angela

Survey results analized through http://www.surveymonkey.com/