Use of the manipulable material Decimal Board in the understanding of the meanings of the subtraction arithmetic operation

Abstract

Several authors point out the use of manipulable materials in the classroom as a solution to promote active and meaningful learning with students. The use of these materials allows students to visualize and manipulate the object, promoting the understanding of the processes inherent to the most abstract principles of mathematics. When carrying out an internship within the scope of the Master’s Degree in Primary School Training and 2nd Grade School Teaching in Mathematics and Experimental Sciences, difficulties became evident in the students of a class of the 1st year of Primary School, related to the resolution of problematic situations that involved the subtraction operation. Thereby, a qualitative study was developed, of an interpretative nature and with an action-research design, which aimed to answer the research question: Does the use of the Decimal Board influence students’ understanding of the meanings of arithmetic subtraction and the fundamental principles of decimal number system? Through the analyzed data it is possible to verify the evolution of the students’ understanding regarding the meanings of the subtraction operation and the principles of the decimal numbering system. It is concluded that the use of the manipulable material Decimal Board enhanced the development of the students’ understanding of these contents.