Education and demonstration – Mathematics – Arithmetic
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2002-07-02
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Mathematics
Arithmetic
C434S188000, C446S266000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06413099
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an educational device. In particular, this invention relates to an educational device enabling the teaching of simple and complex mathematical concepts and operations to children using random and planned combinations of numbers and operations.
BACKGROUND ART
Many teaching aids for children's education are known and used around the world. For the teaching of mathematics, devices representing numbers, such as building blocks, rods and abaci are used. However, many such devices render it difficult for children to understand manipulation of numbers and basic processes and operations in mathematics particularly regarding subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, place value and number bases, as well as basic concepts and operations in algebra and geometry.
It would be desirable to provide an educational device, simple in construction and operation, that assists children in learning and understanding basic mathematical processes and operations.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In a first broad aspect this invention provides an educational device for teaching mathemathical concepts, characterised in that the device includes a set of arms and an elongated member having a handle at a first end and having a distal end; the elongated member being capable of receiving more than two arms rotatably attached along the length of the elongated member at one or more specified and spaced apart positions so that in use the position of a rotatable arm along the length of the elongated member, when laid down upon a surface, represents the numerical significance of that position within a series of numbers and a numerical value is indicated by the rotational position of the one or more rotatable arms about the axis of the elongated member, thereby demonstrating a visual correlate of a number.
Preferably each arm may be reversibly attached to the elongated member.
In a related aspect the elongated member is provided along its length with one or more positioning means each capable of holding a rotatable arm at a corresponding position along the length of the elongated member, so that any one arm at the one position may represent a certain numerical value.
In another related aspect the elongated member is provided along its length with a plurality of positioning means capable of holding ten arms and thereby being congruent with the decimal numbering system.
In a further related aspect the distal end of the elongated member is provided with means capable of securing end-to-end attachment to a like device, so that the length of a series of numbers that can be represented by means of the attached devices is increased.
In yet another aspect the arm is provided with attachment means capable of being rotatably attached at a position along the elongated member.
Preferably the arm is provided with an elongated portion between the attachment means and a display means.
In a yet further aspect the display means includes a visually distinctive portion.
Preferably all members of a set of arms are visually identifiable as belonging to a group.
In a second broad aspect the invention provides a method for using an educational device to teach addition, wherein the method comprises the steps of placing a predetermined number of arms upon the elongated member, twirling the device to randomise the orientation of the arms, laying the device down on a surface, and assessing the number of arms lying out to one side or the other of the elongated member, thereby providing a visual correlate of an addition operation within that predetermined group of numbers and thereby helping to illustrate the process of addition within that predetermined group of numbers.
In a related aspect the invention also provides a method for using an educational device as described previously to teach subtraction, wherein the method comprises the steps of laying the device down on a surface to display a pre-dertmined number of arms on one side of the elongated member, rotating a number of arms corresponding to the number to be subtracted to the opposite side, counting the number of arms left on the first side to find the remainder, thereby providing a visual correlate of a subtraction and so helping to illustrate the process of subtraction.
In a related aspect the invention also provides a method for using an educational device as described previously to teach division wherein the method comprises placing a predetermined number of arms upon the elongated member, laying the device down on a surface, rotating sets of arms of a pre-determined set-size along the elongated member when it is laid down on a surface so that the sets lie alternately to one side and the other of the elongated member, and counting the number of sets that result, thereby providing a visual correlate of a division operation and so helping to illustrate the process of division.
In a related aspect the invention also provides a method for using an educational device as described previously to teach multiplication wherein the method comprises the steps of placing a pre-determined number of sets of arms of a pre-determined set-size along the elongated member when it is laid down on a surface, so that each set lies alternately on one side and the other of the elongated member, and counting the total number of arms that result, thereby providing a visual correlate of a multiplication operation and so helping to illustrate the process of multiplication.
In a related aspect the invention also provides a method for using an educational device as described previously to teach binary numeration, wherein the method comprises the steps of laying the device down on a surface, assigning a binary power of 2 to each of a number of arms upon the elongated member, placing arms in one direction from the elongated member to indicate that particular arms are activated (“on or 1”) or in the opposite direction to indicate that they are deactivated (‘off or 0”), thereby providing a visual correlate of a binary numeration operation performed with the device, so helping to illustrate the binary numeration operation.
In a related aspect the invention also provides a method for using an educational device as described previously to generate an unpredictable number in a manner analogous to throwing a die wherein, the method comprises the steps of placing a number of arms on the device, twirling the device to randomise the orientation of the arms, laying the device down on a surface, and counting the number of arms lying out to one side of the elongated member, thereby providing an unpredictable number lying in the range between zero and a number equal to the number of arms in use.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an education device comprising a holder or axle for a plurality of side by side revolvable arms whereby in use the arms rotate by twirling the holder or by manipulating arms so that, when placed on a support surface, some arms lie on one side of the axle while the remaining arms lie on the other.
It will be appreciated that the device can be used for various games and to develop a variety of cognitive and dexterity skills while also being a mathematics device, a math exploration tool and toy, a type of abacus and a type of number-generator or dice. In mathematics use the device shows patterns which can relate to numbers, enabling people to see or determine relationships in the patterns and between the numbers they may represent.
Provision is made for parts to be added to or removed from the device to make it a math device or abacus or dice of varying numeric value or pattern, e.g. to be a ‘6-arm device’ or an ‘8-arm abacus’ or a ‘dice of 10’. Provision is also made for coding of the parts, e.g. by arms of different colour
Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Fernstrom Kurt
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