From Concrete Manipulatives to Digital Manipulatives: A Paradigm Shift in Mathematics Education

Priya Gopinath, Dr. N. Muthaiah

Abstract: The use of manipulatives has a long tradition in the teaching of Mathematics. Manipulatives have evolved over the years with the rapid advancements in the field of technology. The paper discusses the evolution of manipulatives and their importance in Mathematics education with the support of research findings. The cognitive theories which form the basis for use of digital manipulatives are also discussed.

Keywords: Virtual Manipulatives, Digital Manipulatives, Embodied Cognition, Distributed Cognition, Dual Coding Theory