Worcester Polytechnic Institute
DigitalCommons@WPI
Great Problems Seminar Posters
Great Problems Seminar
2014
Moving Math- Interactive Teaching Aids for
Visualizing Algebra
Ankit Kumar
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Peter Mitrano
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Patrick Polley
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Shanelle Reilly
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/gps-posters
Recommended Citation
Kumar, Ankit; Mitrano, Peter; Polley, Patrick; and Reilly, Shanelle, "Moving Math- Interactive Teaching Aids for Visualizing Algebra"
(2014). Great Problems Seminar Posters. Book 232.
http://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/gps-posters/232
This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Great Problems Seminar at DigitalCommons@WPI. It has been accepted for inclusion in
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Moving Math: Interactive Teaching
Aids for Visualizing Algebra
#C41230
Ankit Kumar (CS), Peter Mitrano (RBE), Patrick Polley (RBE), Shanelle Reilly (BME)
{akumar3, pdmitrano, pjpolley, sreilly2} @wpi.edu
Ignorance Is NOT Bliss [Professor Beck, Professor Traver]
Background
Abstract
th
27
● American 15 year olds rank
out of 70 nations in math1
● Algebra is a gateway to higher
math2
● Algebra Visualization tools
3
improve understanding
Screenshot of the Algebra Scale
This project addresses the difficulty students have visualizing
algebra. An online Algebra Scale and a set of Algebra Tiles were
designed and developed. These tools were provided to a local 8th
grade classroom, where they were used for three weeks. Our
results show that students who used the teaching aids improved,
and enjoyed the tools. However, they did not improve significantly
more than the students who did not use the teaching aids.
Algebra Tiles in Use
Methods
Develop teaching aids for Algebra I topics
Effectiveness Compared To
Standard Methods
Test these teaching aids in a classroom and gather quantitative
results and qualitative feedback
Improvement With Teaching
Aids
Move these teaching aids online, opening them up to students
around the country
Results
“I strongly feel that [the teaching aids] WORK to help
demonstrate the idea of weights to keep a scale balanced”
-Mrs. Bement (8th grade teacher)
● Students taught with the teaching aids did not improve
significantly more than those who were not
● Students thought the teaching aids were “Cool” and “Helpful”
● Hands on Algebra Tiles kept students focused
References
Special Thanks to Mrs. Bement, and all the staff at Mercymount
Country Day School
[1] US Department of Education (2012). PISA International Data
Explorer. National Center of Educational Statistics.
[2] Matthews, M. S., & Farmer, J. L. (2008). Factors affecting the
algebra I achievement of academically talented learners. Journal of
Advanced Academics, 19(3), 472-501.
[3] Caglayan, G. (2013). Prospective mathematics teachers’ sense
making of polynomial multiplication and factorization modeled with
algebra tiles. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 16(5), 349378.