Think about the tricks and techniques that you use to help students transition from concrete arithmetic to abstract algebra. Post some thoughts to the forum, considering:
What's worked for you in the past?
I usually start the students off with manipulative so that they can get a better understanding of the process, once the have master using manipulative then I show the the process using just the operations with paper and pencil.
What do your students find the most difficult?
I believe the students find it most difficult connect concrete to abstract, they usually think of the two in isolation
How do you think programming can help with this transition?
I think program will help them understand that everything is connect and unless you understand abstract algebra the program will not run. It will close the gap of connected concrete to abstract.
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