Abacus Math Getting Started 2 – Introduction To Mental Math Online Learning
Next take a look at our facts training program and flash anzan, getting started 3.
The following is a transcript of the video.
Welcome back to the second webcast in our short series on how to get started training on rightlobemath.com. In this video we’re going to introduce a second training module, mental calculation.
We’ve put together a comprehensive mental training program that is completely integrated with our soroban training program. The approach to mental training is to teach students to visualize processing numbers in their head simply by forming a mental image of the abacus. So there will be no difference between moving beads on a physical abacus versus a mental abacus.
The science of visualization is quite simple. First, students work with the physical abacus and over a short period of time begin to form images of the same bead movements in their head.
As students work through our abacus math program they will first complete a soroban level and then begin practice visualizing the same movements in the mental training program. Training in both soroban and mental calculation in parallel has proven to achieve the fastest learning results.
As a student advances to higher soroban levels it turns out that mental training is needed to build sufficient speed as they process larger and larger numbers. We have spent years developing a highly effective mental training program. With your $29 a year subscription you have complete access to all of our mental training program. We think we’ve put together a uniquely integrated math program proven to work with just a little dedication and consistent practice.
There are no tricks or special strategies to help students perform mental calculation. Learning to visualize calculations our students will build a significant mental math skill they will use for the rest of their lives. Our mental training program utilizes science by engaging multiple senses such as touch, sight, and hearing for efficient deep learning. So let’s go ahead and take a look at the rightlobemath.com mental training program and how to get started.
Okay now that we have logged back into rightlobemath.com we’re at our main practice page. Here on the main practice page we’re going to jump into the mental calculation module. As I mentioned in the previous video the soroban training and mental calculation training will go hand-in-hand. Users will work across both of these modules simultaneously as they work through the program.
Once users complete the beetle level of a soroban training, they have access to the beetle level of mental calculation training. The reason for this is we want students to first practice the bead movements on the physical abacus to begin forming mental images of the same movements before attempting to practice them in mental calculation. This structure will continue all the way through the program throughout the higher levels. Students can work in parallel across both of these training modules.
Here you see we have three modes of mental training which are anzan, a Q&A format, and flash and audibles which are sequential formats. Let’s go ahead and jump in anzan. Like always first we will train before we practice.
As usual we have a short training video that we will watch. This video will show us a few sample problems. Additionally here we have two visual training tools. The first one is number to bead. With this tool, a user will be shown a number in the white box and then they are to represent that number on the abacus. This really helps students work on forming their their mental images as they see numbers. It starts off simply with the number three. I place three on the abacus and check it. Then it asks for 7, I place a 7 and check it. I think you get the idea so I’ll go ahead and stop.
We can also do this visual training in the reverse. With the beads to number training, when I click Start, it will show me the number on the abacus and then I can type the number in the white box. There is a number 5. I hit enter to check it. The number one, I hit enter to check it. Again students try to get 10 in a row. These tools will of course increase the bead reading challenge as users move through the levels presenting larger numbers at faster speeds.
So now I’ve completed my anzan training and I’m ready to practice by clicking the practice button. Here again students are not to use their physical abacus but to do all calculations in their head. I’m going to show an abacus anyway just for reference so we have some idea of what the bead movements would be.
Here in this first problem we put 8 on our mental abacus. We subtract 1 for a final answer of 7. In the second problem we add 5 and then add 2 more for another answer of 7. We are measuring both speed and accuracy for each problem as the student works through the problem set.
When they complete the problem set, they are brought to the results page. We see a summary of what they did. In addition I also want to point out in the responses section they will see their response time on a per problem basis. This is an interesting data point because they’ll be able to see over time how their speed is increasing.
I’ll go back to the the practice page here. Let’s go ahead and take a look at flash training. In flash training I’m going to jump straight into the practice since I think we we know how to train. Again I’m going to click start and show my abacus just for reference.
Here is 2. I add five. Add 1 for a final answer of 8. You can see flash shows the numbers sequentially so the user has to process each number with just a given amount of time. There I have a final answer of 1. The flash format will challenge users to move at a certain pace of processing individual numbers.
On the results page, we can see a summary of how we did.
Going back to the practice page for the final method which is audibles. Again I’ll go ahead and just jump into the the quiz module. For audibles the numbers are going to be read to us sequentially. By default, we read the numbers in English but users can choose from list of other languages.
Again I’m just going to click Start. I place 7 on my abacus. Subtract 6 and add 3 for a final answer of 4. Place 6 on the abacus. Add 1. Subtract 5 for a final answer of 2. So as you can see, we are training students in several different ways to speed up their ability to build mental calculations skills. And as normal after taking the quiz I’m brought to my results page.
Now we can go back to our practice page. As a reminder the program requires students to pass three quizzes for for each mode of mental training before advancing to the next level.
Okay so there you have the rightlobemath.com mental training program. We hope that you will have the same success that many of our users have had and continue to have. We think the mental calculation program is comprehensive and with a little dedication and practice you will achieve the same results. We’d like to see you come back and see our video on tools and much more we have to offer on rightlobemath.com. Thank you and see you next time.