Virtual Manipulatives from the Math Learning Center

I was looking around for virtual manipulatives that I could use for an upcoming training, and came across this set of tools from the Math Learning Center. If anyone has used them, I'd love to hear how you use them. Personally, I LOVE THEM!!!

The best part about these tools is you can

  1. create your own models and examples
  2. add prompts for learners to respond to, and
  3. then can generate a code or copy a link to that exact setup so you can share it with students and have them work within the tool.

Students could rearrange things as they see fit and then share their code of their arrangement...meaning they can actually submit their work in whatever way you wish (via a Padlet, a Google Form, a Google Doc, anything). For example, here's one I created (feel free to try them out): 

Write an Expression (Click to launch the board)  In this board, students will write an expression to describe the arrays. When students are done, they can use the share button to generate their own link, a code that others can enter, or even generate an image of their board. If you were working off of a shared Google Doc or a Padlet, students could enter their URLs, allowing the instructor to show each students' responses to facilitate discussion around the different responses. I encourage people to reply to this post and share your link with your answer so we can see how it works!!!

You could then have a second link to a blank board where students are asked to create an array that models an expression you have written, again, where student answers will likely vary and then a discussion can be had. Or, you can have students create their own arrays and then have pairs exchange each others' arrays, where each writes at least one expression describing the others' array. 

They have the following tools, all of which have web versions or can be downloaded as apps (only on tablets): 

  • Fractions App
  • Geoboard
  • Math Clock
  • Math Vocab Cards
  • Money Pieces
  • Number Frames
  • Number Line
  • Number Pieces
  • Number Rack
  • Pattern Shapes
  • Partial Product Finder

I'm not a huge fan of most virtual manipulatives because they can be pretty outdated (Flash, Java) and not very intuitive for learners or instructors, but these are pretty amazing. 

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