The document is an abstract of action research done at primary bridge school some years ago and meant to encourage the use of min-tools for material manipulation experiences
Using Mini Tools Kit for Manipulating Materials and Designing at Late Primary Grades
1. Using Mini Tools Kit for Manipulating Materials and Designing
at Late Primary Grades
Abstract
An intervention cum action research for systematizing the manipulative and
designing experiences for students of grades three to five was undertaken with
two tools and six workshop exercises for each grade Each exercise done twice
after feedback to make it a monthly experience. The tools for grade three
students were the rounded scissors and cutter; for grade four were the screw
driver, punch and drill; and for grade five were the mini-hacksaw and wood
saw. The manipulative materials were the card sheet, polystyrene sheet or
thermocol, and soft wood. The intervention was carried out in a bridge school
(N=25; Grades: I to V; Age: 11-14 years; all females). The reactions of the
students after one year of experience with mini-tools kit were significantly
favourable when analyzed by chi-square technique. The bridge schools were
run by an NGO for two years (2000-02) and this abstract can work as a
proposal for skill-based education for primary schools elsewhere.
Keywords: Designing, manipulative experiences, technological literacy,
workshop experience