A Virtual Manipulative to Support Rural Students in Developing Spatial Skills in Online Distance Education: Isometric Drawing Tool

• Main Author: Eroglu, Deniz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Computer Simulation; Distance Education; Educational Technology; Foreign Countries; Grade 7; Instructional Effectiveness; Manipulative Materials; Mathematics Instruction; Online Courses; Program Effectiveness; Rural Schools; Secondary School Students; Skill Development; Spatial Ability; Turkey
• ISSN: 2687-1831

Limited knowledge is currently available regarding the efficacy of mathematics education in online distance learning and the strategies that can be implemented to enhance its effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in rural students' spatial skills when engaging in activities that necessitate the use of isometric drawing tool within the context of online distance education. A one-group pretest-posttest experimental design assessed the impact of an isometric drawing tool (IDT) on rural students' spatial skills in online education. This study involved five seventh-grade students from a rural secondary school. Data for this research included spatial skills test administered at the pre- and post-structured interviews, students' worksheets, and opinion forms. This study employed a three-stage analysis of data collection tools: first, assessing changes in students' spatial skills using a rubric; second, utilizing a qualitative descriptive analysis method on tests and worksheets to identify specific spatial skill improvements; and finally, conducting content analysis on opinion forms to capture student perspectives post-implementation. The results indicated that utilizing an isometric drawing tool during online distance education effectively improved rural students' spatial skills. While the students could not even draw cubes on isometric drawing paper at the beginning, it was observed that at the end of the study, they were able to accurately make 3D isometric drawings by positioning the cubes side by side and on top of each other. Overall, students expressed positive opinions about the use of virtual manipulatives. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that educators consider incorporating isometric drawing tools and virtual manipulatives into their online mathematics teaching to enhance students' spatial skills.