An alternating treatments design was used to analyze the effects of concrete and virtual manipulatives on the duration and number of correctly solved linear equations by three middle school students with cognitive disabilities. Participants physically manipulated algebra tiles to solve an equation during the concrete manipulative condition. During…

This paper investigated the effect of block-based programming and unplugged coding teaching activities on fifth graders' computational thinking skills, self-efficacy, and academic performance. The teaching activities were conducted within the scope of the "Problem-Solving and Programming" unit of the Information Technologies and Software…

This study sought to compare the effectiveness of teaching with manipulatives versus algorithms and procedures. Assessment data were collected before instruction, after instruction with algorithms and procedures, and after instruction with modeling and manipulatives. Data were collected from 113 students from the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades within…

Manipulatives are an effective mathematical tool to support students with disabilities in the area of mathematics. Yet, there remain inconsistencies in terms of which type -- concrete or virtual -- is more effective for students with disabilities working on algebra related content and which type is preferred by students. The researchers used an…

Introduction: This study examines the spatial abilities of middle school students with visual impairments (i.e., blindness and low vision) in the context of spatial visualization. The study also aims to examine the strategies used by such students in solving questions requiring spatial ability. Methods: Participants comprised eight students with…

There are various misconceptions students have when studied quadrilateral which encourages efforts needed to overcome these misconceptions. This study aims at overcoming misconceptions by designing learning trajectories in the topic of Quadrilateral applying the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME). Design research carried out at one of junior…

This study utilized a one-group pretest-post-posttest design (Allen, 2017) to examine the effects of the Hands-On Equations system on students' abilities to solve multi-step equation problems following explicit classroom instruction on the skill. Participants consisted of four middle-school male students, all of whom received special education…

As teachers are faced with increasing demands to meet the needs of diverse learners, such as the growing number of students with ASD, the need to accommodate each learner and provide opportunities for individualized learning becomes critical. Therefore, the aim of this A-B single-case study was to explore a variety of support strategies (e.g.,…

Assistive technology supports students with disabilities in a variety of ways, including serving as a means of instruction. Although virtual manipulatives can serve as an assistive technology tool, limited research examines virtual manipulatives in-and-of-themselves to support students with disabilities. This study explored app-based virtual…

Limited research exists to target algebra instruction for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In this study, researchers compared the use of concrete -- with scaffolds added by researchers -- and virtual algebra tiles -- with inherent scaffolds -- to support the acquisition, fluency, and generalization of linear…

"Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All" (NCTM 2014) gives teachers access to an insightful, research-informed framework that outlines ways to promote reasoning and sense making. Specifically, as students transition on their mathematical journey through middle school and beyond, their knowledge and use of…

This small study sought to determine students' knowledge of multiplication and division and whether they are able to use sets of bundling sticks to demonstrate their knowledge. Manipulatives are widely used in primary and some middle school classrooms, and can assist children to connect multiplicative concepts to physical representations.…

Virtual manipulatives are an emerging intervention to support students with disabilities in mathematics. Through a multiple probe across participants design, researchers examined use of an intervention package consisting of a virtual manipulative (i.e., the Two-Color Counter app-based manipulative) and the system of least prompts (SLP) to support…

In theory, both virtual manipulatives and explicit instruction are viable options to support students with disabilities as they learn mathematics. This study explored the effect of a treatment package--an app-based virtual manipulative (Cuisenaire® Rods) in conjunction with explicit instruction--on students' acquisition and generalization of…

Building sets, video games, and scatterplots may seem unrelated, but when they are combined into a problem-based learning (PBL) lesson, these elements join to create a unique learning experience. PBL lessons drive instruction by focusing learning and activities around a central challenge or question while providing a relevant, captivating, and…