Discovery-based learning is characterized by a learning environment where students are not passive observers but actively construct new knowledge, which is expected to contribute to their cognitive development. Since it is desirable for students to reflect on their physical actions during this process and considering the positive effects of using…

Inspired by our dreams of transformation for higher education and bell hooks' (1994) vision for the classroom, we have attempted to move away from traditional learning and teaching methods, which often mirror the imbalanced power dynamics in universities. To do so, we have experimented with different methods of creating space and holding community…

In a previous article, "The Shape of Reasoning: Using Geometry to Promote the Reasoning Proficiency Strand" (EJ1286217), the author put forward the argument that no medium is more powerful than geometry as a vehicle for developing the mathematical proficiency strand of Reasoning. Because geometry is so visual and tactile, the…

This paper introduces tools for converting circular-featured-waste into polygonal construction parts and then 3D polyhedra. The tools, including diagrams, 3D printable joiners and mathematical formulae are designed for mathematics-related play, re-use, learning, design and improvisation. Activities for students include making assemblies, gathering…

This article presents a case study of two Grade 5 boys' argumentation concerning addition and subtraction of negative numbers while using an interactive tablet-based application simulating positive and negative tiles. We examine the properties of integers they conjectured, and the kinds of evidence and arguments they used to support their…

Fidget devices are often used in classrooms to help students move their bodies while attending to academic or behavioral directives. Devices range from small handheld tools such as spinners and tangle puzzles to larger full-body devices such as exercise balls. The current study provides a meta-analysis of the effects of fidget devices as academic…

This paper illustrates how young students aged 5 years old were supported to develop their mathematical representations. In seven lessons, students progressed from using concrete manipulatives to representing their mathematical ideas in more sophisticated ways. The teacher utilised specific instructional actions including holding high expectations…

There is mixed evidence as to whether concrete manipulatives (e.g., toy animals) are better than abstract manipulatives (e.g., counters) for teaching mathematical concepts to children. Concreteness is defined as the amount of extraneous information a manipulative provides, and in this study we aimed to unpick which dimensions of concreteness…

Studies show that spatial interventions lead to improvements in mathematics. However, outcomes vary based on whether physical manipulatives (embodied action) are used during training. This study compares the effects of embodied and non-embodied spatial interventions on spatial and mathematics outcomes. The study has a randomized, controlled,…

In two studies, we investigated whether using three-dimensional (3D) manipulatives during assessment aided performance on a variety of preschool mathematics tasks compared to pictorial representations. On measures of children's understanding of counting and cardinality (n = 103), there was no difference in performance between manipulatives and…

For decades, chemical modeling sets have allowed the user to manipulate atoms and bonds using plastic/wooden ball and stick materials. Here is a design for an interlocking toy brick modeling set in which the undergraduate nursing student can manipulate electrons during the simulated chemical bonding exercise. The author presents a teaching and…

This article investigates the incorporation of loose parts as a means to enhance student creativity within educational environments. Loose parts refer to flexible, movable objects that can be manipulated, combined, and repurposed in various ways. The study delves into the theoretical underpinnings that support the connection between loose parts…

STEAM has gained traction across informal and formal educational settings, but the connections between STEAM disciplines are not always obvious to youth. We argue that an explicit focus on how art and STEM overlap in the world, and how these overlaps connect personally to learner's interests and concerns, is a way to support the development of…

This paper presents two low-cost hands-on activities designed to enhance student understanding and address the pedagogical challenges faced by microbiology professors in teaching concepts related to cell structure and gene regulation. In the first activity, we used Shrinky Dinks and Jeopardy-style game questions to explore the differences between…

This study investigated the effect of a paper folding activity prepared to develop the sixth-grade students' concept definitions and images of parallelism and perpendicularity concepts. The study also examined how the concept definition and images changed after the paper folding activity. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was…