[Ads-l] Nouning of "manipulative" and "manipulable" in the pedagogy domain

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Stanton McCandlish mentioned the transformation of "interactive" into
a noun, and I was reminded of the transformation of the words
"manipulative" and "manipulable" into nouns within the domain of
pedagogy.

[Begin excerpt from OED]
"manipulative" noun
North American. Education. In teaching or learning arithmetic: a
physical object which may be manipulated to help demonstrate a concept
or practise an operation
[End excerpt from OED]

The first OED citation is dated 1965; there is a bracketed citation in
1957. Here is an earlier non-bracketed citation for "manipulative"
with the desired sense (I think).

Date: Fall 1961
Periodical: Michigan Journal of Secondary Education
Volume 3, Number 1
Article: One City Meets the Urban School Crisis
Author: John J. McNicholas Jr.
Start Page 26, Quote Page 31
Database: Internet Archive archive.org

[Begin excerpt]
A basic film and filmstrip library was placed in each school for the
entire session, and additional motion picture films were delivered
weekly as requested. Recordings were available. Manipulatives were
used widely.
[End excerpt]

The word "manipulable" is used as a synonym for the noun
"manipulative". There is no OED entry for the noun "manipulable". Here
are some citations:

Year: 1972
Article: The Rationale and Design of a Primary Grades Reading System
for an Individualized Classroom.
Authors: Isabel L. Beck and Donna D. Mitroff
Authors Affiliation: Learning Research and Development Center,
University of Pennsylvania
Quote Page 6
Database: Internet Archive archive.org

[Begin excerpt]
Modifications have included the insertion of cassette-recorded lessons
and related response sheets, paperback stories for small-group
instruction, and games and manipulables.
[End excerpt]

Title: Social Class and School Knowledge
Author: Jean Anyon (Rutgers University, Newark, New jersey)
Year: 1981
http://www.jeananyon.org/docs/anyon-1981.pdf

[Begin excerpt]
The fifth-grade teacher who teaches math said that her goal in this
subject is the development of mathematical reasoning. She said the
"demands" of "getting through the curriculum" do not leave her time to
have the children "explore" with manipulables such as geoboards.
[End excerpt]

Website: EducationWeek
Title: A Pernicious Myth: Basics Before Deeper Learning
Author: Jal Mehta
Date on website: January 04, 2018
https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-a-pernicious-myth-basics-before-deeper-learning/2018/01

[Begin excerpt]
The lesson included some mini-lecture, some manipulables (strands that
the students could use to assemble DNA), and some worksheet questions.
[End excerpt]

Title: Immersive VR and Education: Embodied Design Principles That
Include Gesture and Hand Controls
Author: Mina C. Johnson-Glenberg
Date: 2028
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2018.00081/full

[Begin excerpt]
Using virtual content, teachers will not be constrained by having to
purchase specific physical manipulables.
[End excerpt]

Garson

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