Associate professor of the University of Chicago, Dr. James Stigler, wrote his thesis about abacus study. According to his research, 50 children from a non-abacus method institute of an average IQ were taken against other 50 children from an Abacus institute. The memory tests were taken on a visual memory scale. And guess what, the results have shown that the Abacus learners had 200% better memory than the non-abacus learners. This proves the worth of the Abacus of learning Maths in itself.
Abacus Maths taught in the UK and Worldwide, Supermaths Academy have always been based on the Abacus method of learning Maths. Abacus Math may seem to be more complex, but it actually speeds up the capacity of a person to perform heavy calculations. We believe this method is the absolute best way to learn Maths, based on scientific research that validates the methodology. Kids who learn Maths using the Abacus performed better in many areas of life. Thus, we can conclude that learning Abacus is an asset to your kid.
The Abacus method works so well that we are now planning to begin offering the online Abacus Maths Classes to our children. That’s right, now children who are not local to Glasgow can still learn this tremendous Abacus method in Mathematics, irrespective of their geographic location. And even if you live locally but do not have the ability to get to our learning center, your child can still study online and start learning Maths in Glasgow or anywhere else.
Abacus Method Basics
So you must be wondering what Abacus Math is? The Abacus method of learning Maths is a system of mental calculation based on visualizing an Abacus. The Abacus itself is an ancient tool consisting of several rows of beads grouped in values tens and mounted on a frame. Maths calculations are made by sliding beads back and forth to represent the various numbers in the calculation. Though abacus have been around for thousands of years, very few people actually own one. That’s not a problem. The Abacus method doesn’t require your child to physically handle one of these ancient instruments. We teach children to visualise the Abacus in their heads, then use their fingers to manipulate the imaginary beads. This Abacus teaching method has proven to have cognitive advantages for your child. Abacus Math learning can help your child to grow their intelligence, helping them to solve complex problems from an early age.Benefits of the Abacus Method
This article began by asserting that there is research validating the Abacus method for learning Maths. One such study conducted by a number of American researchers from the University of California, Harvard University, Stanford University, and Skidmore College confirms that the Abacus does two things. First, it significantly boosts Maths skills by teaching students to visualise calculations rather than merely memorising them. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the Abacus teaching method has long-lasting effects on a person’s thought processes. The constant visualization while learning Abacus in the mind trains your child’s brain to handle calculations more conveniently. It also sharpens their memory. Another study out of Japan’s Shinshu University offers similar evidence. That study showed a number of benefits of the Abacus method, including the following:-
Numerical Memory
Learning to do Maths on an Abacus makes it easier for students to memorise rather long numbers. Abacus Math generally deals with large calculations as this is where the benefit of the method really comes to light. The study demonstrated that nine-digit memorisation was fairly easy for students
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Problem-Solving Skills
Abacus Math learning isn’t only about Math but also about training the mind to handle complex problems. The Abacus Maths improves problem-solving skills, both in Maths and other areas of life. The method teaches children to think through problems logically.
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Rapid Calculations
Learning Maths with the Abacus method equips a student to do rapid calculations without the need for electronic devices or writing instruments. All calculations are performed in the head by visualizing the Abacus. This is why the Abacus method in Mathematics is preferred by those who want to take competitive exams.
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Critical Thinking
The skills learned in the Abacus method make students better at critical thinking in other areas of life. They are better able to conceptualize all sorts of challenges. They think through solutions and reach conclusions more easily.
Sources:
- Vox – https://www.vox.com/first-person/2017/3/6/14766970/abacus-maths-learning-lessons
- Shuzan – http://www.shuzan.jp/english/brain/brain.html