No, it doesn’t need to be ‘plugged in’ to be an appropriate learning technology! I saw this device when I visited and worked with educators in New Zealand. The invention of educator, Dr. Des Rainey, the tool’s richness is in its simplicity. It consists of a rod on which coloured balls can be clipped… And here is the magic. Thinking about and talking about how the balls lie after a ‘spin’ can only be done by thinking and talking in math. This simple little technology is certainly worth pursuing. Brilliant!
DAVID WARLICK, KEYNOTE SPEAKER, LEARNINGATSCHOOLS EXPO 2007, ROTORUA.
I can't over emphasise the importance of physical resources in maths education. The Number Stick is one of those wonderful versatile resources that really supports & extends children’s learning of central concepts in mathematics.
ALEX WILLIAMS, PROGRAMME COORDINATOR/LECTURER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, UNITEC, AUCKLAND.
The Great New Zealand Business Venture is pleased to acknowledge the outstanding energy and ingenious thought that makes your idea such a compelling one. Congratulations on your richly deserved award.
BRIDGET WICKHAM, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, GNZBV COMPETITION.
Kinaesthetic! - very manageable!- the way they join up (for calculating and place value etc) is excellent - really neat that you can use it for Number and Statistics and Algebra, across Strands - fantastic for mental arithmetic - children need to build very powerful visual images and this works towards that - the ‘Number-Family’ concept is excellent. Great also as back up for those children who are under-achieving by Year 3-4.
BECKY SOMERVILLE & TEAM, EDENDALE SCHOOL
It’s fun and children love it, even learning tables! – I love the practicality of it - no more counters and bottle-tops all over the floor – very visual - helps children understand and that’s where children need help in moving from the concrete to the abstract – very good too for Place Value and different bases. The Activity Books as a resource are great. '10 out of 10' for the 'Number-Family' concept. Fantastic!
JULIE MCDONALD AND TEAM, WADESTOWN MAIN SCHOOL, WELLINGTON
Teachers and children have enjoyed using the equipment and the activity sheets. The children have found it easy to master and have experienced a high success rate in increasing their understanding of number...
JAN UPSTON, ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, LYALL BAY SCHOOL
Teaching young Special Needs pupils all about ‘10s and ones’ is just magic… Most recently children have enjoyed doing extended numbers with extended ‘Sticks’. Great for group work.
BEVERLEY ANARU, DIRECTOR, NGATI WHAKAUE ENRICHMENT UNIT, NGONGOTAHA PRIMARY, ROTORUA
A mathematical exploration tool and toy which children can use creatively and imaginatively..
LEN COOPER, MATHEMATICS EDUCATION CONSULTANT, AUCKLAND
Fascinating! So useful when I talk to teachers about resources that can be used to build part/whole understanding…
JENNY YOUNG-LOVERIDGE, WAIKATO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Children love it. They get so excited.
LINDA ROBINSON, SYLVIA PARK SCHOOL
I like the visual hands-on see-everything’ – excellent for place value – versatile! - good for basic facts, always a problem! – kids use it independently too – they love to play with it as a free choice activity.
MARILYN SHEEHAN, SUNNYVALE SCHOOL, HENDERSON
The maths device is fascinating. Our Special Needs students all enjoy working with it. Stimulating!
MARGE GRIFFITHS, LAKE RERE WHAIKAAITU SCHOOL
My young pupils enjoy working with it, and I find it a very successful tool for assisting their understanding of number and basic operations.... This manipulative is especially and UNIQUELY effective in helping children gain an understanding of the ten-ness of 10, one of the most important elements of good mathematical education.
CLAIRE AUMONIER, HOME SCHOOLING CONSULTANT AND FOUNDER OF THE HOMESCHOOLING FEDERATION, AUCKLAND.
It is very easy to understand and operate at all levels and SPELD teachers throughout the country will find it extremely useful in the teaching of maths.
RAE MCKEOWN, DIRECTOR OF TEACHER TRAINING FOR SPELD N.Z. (INC)
The school was very pleased. They gave me an example of one student who just couldn't 'see' addition and subtraction, having wonderful success with all the stories she could understand and write and enjoying it all.
JAY FITZPATRICK, MATHEMATICS ADVISER, WELLINGTON
It’s novel and the utility of it is excellent. You can just go from one aspect of math to the next and the next and the next on the same tool. It’s a very very diverse tool! ...There's a magic here.
L K KNOWLES, SMALL WORLD TOYS, LOS ANGELES
Our schools are moving more and more towards the re-introduction of hands on resources. Recent studies have shown that children have a better understanding of some of the basic maths principals if they can ‘see’ the concept… Your resource, will compliment this new direction… Students will want to explore number with the ‘Number Stick’ because it’s simple to use, the results are clearly defined and the children have a tremendous amount of fun along the way. From the teacher’s point of view…through its range of printed material, the Number Stick certainly offers busy teachers the opportunity of delivering well constructed lessons which fit superbly with the curriculum.
MEGAN MCGAW, AUCKLAND