Top 5 Digital Manipulatives for Education
Digital manipulatives provide interactive and engaging activities for students to learn math concepts in a fun and effective way.
Here are some great free digital manipulatives that can be used for a variety of learning activities. Teachers and students can interact with them on an interactive whiteboard or they can be used as a digital option if physical manipulatives are not available. In a nutshell, they are great visuals for teachers to present with and for students to play with.
Let’s explore five of the top digital manipulatives for education: Mathigon, Toy Theater, Diadax, Math Learning Center, and Mathbots.
Mathigon
Mathigon is a free, interactive platform that provides students with visual and interactive activities to learn math. There are plenty of free teaching resources available on the site bringing engagement to a whole new level for teachers and students.
On the Mathigon home page, students can explore and experiment with different mathematical concepts. Like fractals, sequences, graph theory, and symmetry. The tool walks students through the concepts with an introduction and then an explanation that includes videos and questions to keep engagement and attention.
There are more activities on the activities tab including an activity created to show students the applications of mathematics in the real world!
Its Courses section provides a comprehensive math curriculum that includes topics from algebra to calculus. Additionally, Mathigon provides helpful tools like a graphing calculator and a digital protractor.
And last but not least, the interactive Polypad is a great tool to help show many different aspects of geometry, numbers, fractions, algebra, probability and data, and music!
With its unique features, Mathigon makes learning math fun and engaging. From interactive tools to courses and real-life applications. This tool is a must for math education!
Toy Theater is an online tool that offers a wide range of educational games and activities, including math games. Its math games are designed to help students practice math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The games are visually appealing and engaging, making it easier for students to learn and retain the concepts.
Under the Teacher Tools section, you will find flashcards, a geoboard, fraction strips, bars and circles, interactive time clocks, and place value charts. The students may think they are just playing games with these interactive tools, when they are actually practicing the different math concepts we are teaching. The drag-and-drop style tools are great to use as a teaching aide or for students to use.
Diadax is a free online tool that offers interactive math activities for students. Its activities range from simple math concepts like addition and subtraction to more complex concepts like geometry and algebra. Diadax provides instant feedback to students, which helps them to understand their mistakes and correct them.
For the primary grades, there are 20-bead rekenrek, 100-bread rekenrek, unifix cubes, ten frames, pattern blocks, and dice to name a few tools. This edtech tool could not only be used on an interactive whiteboard for demonstration, but also on the students’ devices for their own practice.
Make sure to also check out the printables for activities to do with each manipulative. They range from Kindergarten to 12th grade.
Math Learning Center provides free math resources for educators and students. Its digital manipulatives are designed to help students understand math concepts in a visual and interactive way. Its math tools include tools like virtual fraction bars, geoboards, and number lines. The tools are easy to use and provide a fun and engaging way to learn math.
As the teacher, you can use the tools for group lessons or you can have the students use them individually as they complete their work. There is also a whiteboard option to show your work quickly and effectively and vocabulary cards to work on mathematical terms.
You have the option to download the apps or to use them on the web browser. Both options are easy and user-friendly.
Mathsbots is an online tool that offers math games and activities for students in grades K-8. The games are designed to help students practice math skills like multiplication, division, and fractions. Mathsbots is a fun and engaging way for students to learn math and improve their math skills.
Not only are there dozens of manipulatives, but there are also interactive tables and grids to show the relation of the mathematical function, GCSE (General Certification of Secondary Education) resources, printables, puzzles, drills, and question generators.
With such a variety of engaging tools to use in the classroom, Mathsbot is a must to check out!
Digital manipulatives can be great for the classroom as they provide a fun and engaging way for students to learn math. Mathigon, Toy Theater, Diadax, Math Learning Center, and Mathsbots are all great tools that offer a wide range of interactive math activities and games. By using these digital manipulatives, educators can provide students with a more dynamic and engaging learning experience that will help them better understand and retain math concepts.
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