Numerical Training Videos and Early Numerical Achievement: A Study on 3-Year-Old Preschoolers

Early numerical abilities predict later math achievement and could be improved in children by using various training methods. As the literature on the use of training videos to develop numerical abilities is still surprisingly scant, the aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of a numerical training video on the development of counting and number line knowledge in 3-year-old preschoolers. Far transfer effects to cardinality and working memory were also examined. The study involved 86 children randomly assigned to two intervention groups: a numerical training group exposed to videos on counting and number lines; and a control group exposed to videos on colors and animal names in a foreign language. After the video training, there was an improvement in the numerical training group’s counting skills, but not in their number line knowledge, and this improvement persisted six months later. The numerical training group also showed a far-transfer enhancement of cardinality six months after the intervention. Based on our results, numerical training videos could be effective in helping to enhance early numeracy skills in very young preschoolers.

EXPRESS: The Association of Basic Numerical Abilities and Math Achievement: The Mediating Role of Visuospatial and Arithmetical Abilities

Basic numerical abilities such as number line estimation have been observed repeatedly to be associated with mathematical achievement. Recently, it was argued that the association between basic numerical abilities and mathematical achievement is fully mediated by visuospatial abilities. However, arithmetical abilities have not yet been considered as influencing this association, even though solution strategies in number line estimation as well as mathematical achievement often involve arithmetical procedures. Therefore, we investigated the mediating role of arithmetical and visuospatial abilities on the association between number line estimation and mathematical achievement in a sample of n = 599 German elementary school students. Results indicated that arithmetical abilities as well as visuospatial abilities mediated the association between number line estimation and mathematical achievement. However, neither visuospatial nor arithmetical abilities fully mediated the association between number line estimation and mathematical achievement when considered in isolation. This substantiates the relevance of the intertwined development of visuospatial and arithemtical abilities as well as basic numerical abilities such as number line estimation (i.e. the combination of domain-specific numerical and domain-general abilities) driving mathematical achievement.

Early visual deprivation does not prevent the emergence of basic numerical abilities in blind children.

Studies involving congenitally blind adults demonstrated that visual experience is not a mandatory prerequisite for the emergence of efficient numerical abilities. It remains however unknown whether blind adults developed lifelong strategies to compensate for the absence of foundations vision would provide in infancy. We therefore assessed basic numerical abilities in blind and sighted children of 6 to 13 years old. We also assessed verbal and spatial working memory abilities and their relationship with mental arithmetic in both groups. Blind children showed similar or better numerical abilities as compared to the sighted. Blind children also outperformed their sighted peers in every task assessing verbal working memory and demonstrated a similar spatial span. The correlation between arithmetic and the spatial sketchpad was affected by the group while the correlations between arithmetic and the other two components (the central executive and the phonological loop) were not affected by early visual experience. Our data suggest that early blindness does not impair the development of basic numerical competencies in children but influences the associations between arithmetic and some working memory components.

STUDENT'S NUMERICAL ABILITY PROFILE REVIEWED BY GENDER

The purpose of this study is to describe the numerical abilities of male and female students in grade VIII of SMP Negeri 10 Kendari; and to analyze the differences in numerical abilities of male and female students in grade VIII of SMP Negeri 10 Kendari. This type of research is quantitative descriptive research with the population in this study is all grade VIII students of SMP Negeri 10 Kendari which number 157 students. Sampling using total sampling techniques selected a sample of 157 students as well. Data collection techniques use students' numerical ability tests. Based on the results of the data analysis and discussion obtained conclusions: (1) numerical ability reviewed gender for grade VIII students of State Junior High School 10 Kendari is in the low category of both male and female students; (2) no difference in the numerical ability of Grade VIII students of SMP Negeri 10 Kendari is reviewed by gender.