REPORT THE IMPACT OF ABACUS LEARNING OF MENTAL ARITHMETIC

40 Pages·2013·1.02 MB·English

REPORT
THE IMPACT OF ABACUS
LEARNING OF MENTAL
ARITHMETIC ON COGNITIVE
ABILITIES OF CHILDREN
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REPORT
THE IMPACT OF ABACUS LEARNING OF MENTAL
ARITHMETIC ON COGNITIVE ABILITIES
OF CHILDREN
1st EDITION: may 2013
Published by ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC, 2013
Thesis submitted to
UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
For the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
By
K. VASUKI
Under the guidance of
Dr. P. J. CHARUMATHI
Department of Applied Psychology and Behavioural Research
Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women
Chennai 600 0018
December 2005
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REPORT
THE IMPACT OF ABACUS LEARNING OF MENTAL
ARITHMETIC ON COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF CHILDREN
ALOHA MENTAL ARITHMETIC
This report is based on ALOHA, acronym for Abacus Learning of Higher Arithmetic,
learners.
ALOHA is a mental development programme which enhances the brain development
of students through the use and visualization of the abacus.
In 1993, Mr. Loh Mun Sung decided to create a programme which, based on the use of
the abacus, would go beyond and would enhance the coordination and development
of both cerebral hemispheres.
The programme, currently teach in more than 20 countries, is directed to children
aged between 5 and 13, since in this period the plasticity of the brain and, therefore,
the learning capacity, are greater.
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I INTRODUCTION
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NEED FOR MATHEMATICS
ALL ABOUT ABACUS
History & Development of Abacus
A New Abacus
Objectives of Abacus Mental Arithmetic Education
The Best Learning Age for the Children
Benefits of Learning Abacus
PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF LEARNING
Hemispheric Functions
Development of the Right Brain and Abacus Method Of Mental
Calculation
II METHODOLOGY
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RESEARCH PROBLEM
AIM OF THE STUDY
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS OF THE VARIABLES SELECTED
RESEARCH DESIGN
TOOLS USED FOR THE STUDY
PILOT STUDY
SELECTION OF STUDY AREA
SAMPLING FRAME
SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS
COLLECTION OF DATA
PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
III RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
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TEST OF NORMALITY
HOMOGENEITY OF GROUPS
IMPACT OF ABACUS LEARNING ON THE VARIABLES LISTED BELOW
Concentration
Problem Solving Ability
Working Memory
Spatial ability
Associative Memory
Creativity
Concept formation
GENERAL MATHEMATICAL ABILITY
CONTRIBUTORS TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
COGNITIVE ABILITIES. DISCRIMINATING THE GROUPS
SUMMARY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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ABSTRACT
Based on the objectives and review of
literature, wherever necessary, Alternate
Hypotheses and Null Hypotheses were
framed. The Quasi experimental design
with multiple post tests was used for this
longitudinal study to gather information
regarding the impact of Abacus learning
on the selected cognitive abilities of
children. The study was conducted in
Dr. Vasuki. P.H.D, in philosophy and Chennai district of Tamil Nadu. Children
author of the study of the age 8-12 years, who are learning
Abacus, with ALOHA Mental Arithmetic
were chosen as the experimental group.
Abacus Learning of Higher Arithmetic As per the control group, children of the
(ALOHA) Education helps children by age 8-12 years, who are not learning
expanding the infant mental powers and ALOHA, were chosen.
faculties and thus uplifting their morale.
Also it trains and instills in children the The sampling procedure adopted to
habit of good memory and recall of data select the abacus learners included
with maximum efficiency and minimum simple random sampling and purposive
energy. sampling. The same techniques were
adopted to select control group. Sample
This unique training programme has consisted of 160 children (80 boys and
captured not only the interest of children 80 girls) for experimental group and
but also the attention of parents and the same for control group. During the
educational personnel across India. experiment dropout rate was found to
Although, it has become popular all over be 12% for experimental group and 10%
Asia there is lack of Literature related to for the control group. Psychological tests
Abacus Learning in the Indian context. were used to collect the data from both
Having realized the benefits of learning the groups.
Abacus Programme, it was necessary
to do a scientific study to find out the The tools used for the study were the
consequences of learning Abacus Mental following standardized tests: Raven
Arithmetic during formative stages. standard progressive Matrices (J.C.
Raven,1956) ,letter cancellation test, test
Therefore the present research attempted of creativity (M.A.Wallach & N. Kogan,
to study the impact of Abacus Learning 1965, adopted by C. R. Paramesh,
on the cognitive abilities such as 1972),The Porteus Maze Test (Stanley D.
concentration, problem solving, working Porteus,1967) ,The concept formation
memory, associative memory, spatial test (Komal Dwlvedi, 1976), and The
ability, concept formation and creativity. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
Also it tried to identify the specific (Wechsler 1958).
cognitive abilities contributing towards
Academic performance of children,
which in turn would trigger the parental
interest towards this programme.
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“Intelligent mind works hand - in - hand with efficient hand.
Efficient hand works hand - in - hand with intelligent mind”
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THE IMPACT OF ABACUS LEARNING OF MENTAL ARITHMETIC ON COGNITIVE ABILITIES OF CHILDREN
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
In the last years Abacus Learning of Higher Arithmetic (ALOHA) have become
very popular in asian countries. The reason why this technique survives, despite
computers and calculators, is a strenuous workout for the brain. The operation of
abacus involves co-ordinated action of the main nerves of the human body, i.e. sight,
sound and movement of the hands which in turn enhances the brain development.
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NEED FOR MATHEMATICS
In these days of increasing innovations in the fields of technological development
and also in day-to-day life, there is a considerable amount of dependence on
Maths which is the basis of all such developments.
The fundamental process of addition, subtraction and counting are all mathematical
in nature and every one of us uses them in day-to-day life.
Understanding mathematics fosters an ability to think laterally. Constant
mathematic exploration and practice will give confidence in one`s metal faculties,
intelligence and problem solving abilities. Mathematics possesses certain
characteristics, which are suitable for the training of the learner´s mind. These
characteristics are:
· Simplicity
· Accuracy
· Precision
· Originality
· Similarity to reasoning of life
ALL ABOUT ABACUS
History and Development of Abacus
The earliest instruments for counting were stones, slender tree branches, tying knots
and carving. All these methods of counting once used widely by many nations are no
longer in use. Devices helping with such calculations begun with the prehistoric use
of stone counters and progressed with the abacus.
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