Sometimes, it is hard to teach some materials without using any tools when we teach in our classes or it is hard to make any media for teaching. It impacts also to students in getting the material's concept and deep understanding.
I use manipulatives from National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) and you should believe in me that this manipulatives are so cool. I take this articles and it gives me a such great inspiration to teach mathematics in my classrooms.
IT-based manipulatives are an important supplement to and/or replacement for certain types of hands-on "concrete" manipulatives often used in math education.
Manipulatives (blocks, rods, bean sticks, etc.) are commonly used in mathematics education. In recent years, a number of websites have been developed that contain "virtual" versions of some of these manipulatives. The references given below provide information about some of these websites.
It appears that there may be a fine dividing line between a concrete manipulative and a virtual manipulative. For example, does it make any difference in student learning whether a physical spinner is used to generate data, or whether a computerized spinner (that may well look the same) is used?
One of the most important general developments in science in recent years has been the idea of Computational Science. Thus, we now have Computational Biology, Computational Chemistry, etc. (The same idea applies to other disciplines, and these other disciplines have had varying levels of success in incorporating IT within their basic fabric.) And, as might be expected, Computational Mathematics is now an important branch of mathematics.
For full article, you may visit this website : http://otec.uoregon.edu/virtual_manipulatives.htm
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