Mathematics instructional aids that can be used in mathematics classroom are many and varied in types. Some of them include – real or
concrete objects, models, pictorial aids, charts, chalk board, flannel boards, calculator / computer, audio-visual aids, mathematical games and mathematics laboratory. You will become more intimate with them
as we examine each one by one
3.3.1 Real Life Objects
These are real objects that can be used in the course of teaching or learning. For example, for primary mathematics topics like counting,
and basic number works like addition, subtraction multiplication, division etc. real materials like seeds, bottle tops, set of sticks etc. may
be used as counters. In teaching money arithmetic, actual currency may
be used at the initial stages to illustrate buying and selling at the classroom corner shops. When teaching weight and measures, actual objects like tables, length & breath of classroom etc. can be measured;
books and other real life objects can be weighed. All such objects that
are used are instructional aids in real or concrete forms.
3.3.2 Models
Mathematical models are concrete material which is representations of the objects to be learnt about. They are usually three dimensional i.e.
having length, breadth, and height / depth; examples of such models
include cube, cuboids, dieses block etc. As instructional aids they:
(i)
64(ii)
Thy aid, simplify and clarify the description of mathematicalideas
(iii) They make the abstracted ideas clear and facilitate creative
thinking
3.3.3 Charts
A chart as an instructional aid is a sheet of paper containing information in form of curves, diagrams, maps, graphs, formulaic, equations which guides and train students for accurate work. This type of aids are not
manipulatable, they can only be seen and touched
3.3.4 The Chalkboard
The chalk board is also called the black board because it is traditionally painted black to contrast the white chalk that is commonly used. It is an
age long aid and one of the most instructional aid used in the classroom.
It is normally used to develop the main ideas being discussed during the lesson. This can be summary of the key points of the lesson, or for
drawing figures, for solving problems etc. the teacher should make effective use of the chalk board by ensuring that he writes clearly on the
board so that all learners can see including those at the back of the classroom. The general lay out of the blackboard work must be neat and well organized. When necessary and where the size of the chalk board
permits, the chalk board work may be partitioned into two or three section by using chalk to draw vertical lines across the board. This
usually improves the management of the chalkboard.
3.3.5 Flannel Board
This instructional aid is usually made with hard wood like plywood. Its surface is then covered with flannel, or blanket or any material having rough surface. It is generally used to display pictures, diagrams, charts or any such thing the teacher want to display to students. Material for display on the flannel board must also have their backs rubbed with sand paper flannel or any such rough material which will enable their backs to stick to the flannel board surface and stay. As the teacher teaches, any drawn materials meant to illustrate the teaching can be displayed on the flannel board, the flannel board is movable, it can be brought in when
needed and kept away when its use is no longer demanded.
3.3.6 Text Book
The text book is an instructional aid that is most frequently used by
teachers than any other, while this is proper and good, mathematics
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teacher should not limit himself to only the use of text books; he should
supplement his teaching with other instructional aid especially concreteor model types, or which ever among the numerous alternatives he deems best to enhance students understanding. Mathematics is an abstract subject, and it is one of the reasons why learners don’t enjoy
learning mathematics. Using appropriate instructional aid will go a long way to helping learners understand the abstraction and help improve
their attitude toward learning the subject.
A good mathematics text book will offer tremendous help to mathematics teachers whose background and methodology is not adequate. Most text books provide most of the content for a course, they
also provide exercises for practice, and it can be used for independent
study by learners too.
In selecting the mathematics text to use, it must be checked to be
adequate in much respect, some of which include the following:
(i) The topics must conform to the current curriculum being emphasized by the school,
(ii) It most is appropriate in terms of interest correctness difficulty as well as its usefulness for learners offering the course.
(iii) The mathematical computation of worked examples must be
correct straight forward and easy to understand.
The language must be simple and comprehensible.
3.3.7 Others
There are other various instructional aids for various uses in the classroom. These include hand calculators / computer that can aid in
computational work. Audio visual materials like television, radio etc.
can also be used as instructional aids when and where relevant.
Mathematical games can be used both to aid the teaching / learning situation and to spark interest in the mathematics classroom. Laboratory
teaching is both an approach of teaching as well as an aid to understanding mathematical concepts. Hence as a mathematics teacher,
you have a lot of resources that can be used to enhance your teaching
and also aid your learners in their quest for understanding,
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Mention and discuss five types of instructional aids that can be used in
the teaching and learning of mathematics
ANSWERS TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISES
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
Eight purposes of instructional aids include the following:-
(i) They help to make the lesson clear and clear to learners
(ii) They help learners to discover mathematical principles by themselves
(iii) Learners find it easer to understand concept taught to them
especially when concrete materials are used.
(iv) The spark interest and arouse the curiosity of learners as they
interact with the instructional aids
(v) They provide learners with opportunity for active learning
(vi) Learners gain first-hand experience which is not possible withordinary chalk / talk approach.
(vii) Learners are enabled to recall what the have been taught more
easily
(viii) Instructional aids also relief the teacher of the problem of making
long explanations.
SELF ASSESMENT EXERCISE 2
The following are three types of instructional aids that can be used in