Manual learning aid device for one or more subjects

Abstract

A manual learning aid device (10) for one or more subjects, in particular usable to learn or improve the ability to count and / or perform numerical calculations, comprises a plurality of cards or tokens (12) and at least one collecting stick (14) provided with a longitudinal collection surface (15), along the extension of which there are a plurality of discrete sealings (16), each configured to receive and stably and removably retain a respective card or token (12).

Description

[0001] “MANUAL LEARNING AID DEVICE FOR ONE OR MORE SUBJECTS”

[0002] * * * * *

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention concerns a manual learning aid device for one or more subjects, for example students in schools or suchlike, or those with learning difficulties in the logical-mathematical field, in particular usable to learn or improve the ability to count and / or perform numerical calculations. This device is designed to be used, for example, in educational, school, or home settings, to aid learning numbers, how to count, as well as perform basic and also more complex mathematical operations.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is known that, in order to learn how to count, there are several fundamental competencies that, for example, a child has to develop, such as:

[0007] - stable order: the ability to order objects in a specific and coherent order, such as numbers or letters for example;

[0008] - biunivocal correspondence: the ability to establish a univocal correspondence between two sets, where each element of one set is associated exactly with one element of the other set;

[0009] - cardinality: the ability to understand that the number of elements in a set is represented by the final count, regardless of the order of the elements.

[0010] These competencies are critical to the development of the concept of number and the ability to use numbers effectively in daily life.

[0011] In order to achieve these competency goals, a child has to develop skills by learning specific knowledge of the discipline, summarized below:

[0012] - abstract concept of number: understand that numbers represent a quantity;

[0013] - subitizing: instantly recognize a small amount without having to count it;

[0014] - comparison of sets: be able to compare sets with different numerousness;

[0015] - reasoning on “putting in” and “taking out”: reasoning on the concept of addition and subtraction;

[0016] - quantity-word-symbol association: associate a quantity with a word (e.g. “two”) and with a graphic symbol (2);

[0017] - sequential memory: remember the sequence from zero to ten;

[0018] - forward and backward counting: count both forward and backward. These competencies are developed through daily experiences and educational games that involve counting and associating numbers with objects or images.

[0019] In addition, it is important that parents and educators count together with children, using real-life objects and situations to make learning more concrete and meaningful.

[0020] In addition, to learn how to do the calculations, there are several fundamental competencies that a child has to develop. Here are some of them:

[0021] - knowledge of mathematical properties: understand the fundamental properties of mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division;

[0022] - numerical reasoning: develop the ability to reason with numbers, understand the relationships between them and apply them in practical situations;

[0023] - sequential memory: be able to remember sequences of numbers or calculation steps.

[0024] These competencies are developed through constant training and practice, both individually and in groups. Mathematics is a discipline that requires patience and perseverance, but with the right approach it can become very rewarding and useful in everyday life.

[0025] To perform calculations, using objects can be effective in learning knowledge and developing mathematical skills, such as for example:

[0026] - physical counting: use objects such as coins, pencils or pebbles to count and display numbers;

[0027] - grouping: group objects according to categories or quantities in order to understand concepts such as addition and subtraction;

[0028] - building: build models or geometric shapes with blocks or bricks to learn geometry.

[0029] The use of objects makes learning mathematics more interactive and concrete, connecting mathematical concepts to everyday life.

[0030] Various manual learning devices for teaching counting and arithmetic operations are known in the art. However, many of these devices are complex, expensive, or difficult to use, especially for preschool-age children or those in early primary school years.

[0031] There is therefore the need to perfect a manual learning aid device for one or more subjects, in particular usable to learn or improve the ability to count and / or perform numerical calculations, which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0032] Specifically, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a device that is simple to use, economical, and allows to learn how to count and perform numerical calculations effectively, which takes up reasonable volumes and can be used quickly in relation to the various operations to be performed.

[0033] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0034] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0036] Some embodiments described here concern a manual learning aid device for one or more subjects, in particular usable to learn or improve the ability to count and / or perform numerical calculations. The device comprises a plurality of cards or tokens and at least one collecting stick provided with a longitudinal collection surface, along the extension of which there are a plurality of discrete seatings, each configured to receive and stably and removably retain a respective card or token.

[0037] The particular feature of the device described here is being able to handle a large number of “units”, that is, the cards or tokens, maintaining order and a contained usage space, thanks to the particular seatings for housing them; in addition, the cards or tokens can be moved rapidly, dynamically and in a stable manner thanks to the magnetic elements used. In addition, the device allows to visualize mathematical concepts, even complex ones, thanks to the planar and vertical coupling systems of the bases.

[0038] Advantageously, each card or token represents a unit in the counting or calculating base of interest, which can be for example base ten, although it is not excluded that the device described here can be designed and configured to count and / or calculate in bases other than base ten.

[0039] The device described here is useful to assist one or more subjects in counting and performing mathematical calculation operations. In particular, thanks to the use of the device described here, the subject can easily visualize the concept of a positional system.

[0040] In addition, another advantage of the device described here is to create an easily understandable biunivocal correspondence between the environment and the numbers.

[0041] Moreover, an advantage of the device described here is the possibility of visualizing not only the progressive count with natural numbers, but also the four basic mathematical operations, as well as more complex mathematical operations such as powers and, in addition, the basic properties of the aforementioned mathematical operations, such as for example the commutative property, the associative and dissociative property, the distributive property and the invariant property. In particular, the device described here offers a valuable aid for understanding the properties of operations, which can therefore be introduced geometrically so as to give an intuitive justification and an easily understandable visualization. This is particularly useful in calculation algorithms, in the identification of faster calculation paths, as a support for mental calculation and to acquire a technique and a rule that always applies. Not to mention that the same properties thus acquired also apply to operations using decimal numbers and fractions.

[0042] Furthermore, thanks to the device described here, the subject is aided in visualizing and becoming aware of the discrete units that are associated with, or removed from, each collecting stick on each occasion, thus having knowledge of the reason for both the numerical value that each individual card or token represents, and also the total value of the number of cards or tokens that are housed, added or removed on each occasion in the collecting stick / s.

[0043] The device described here can comprise a plurality of collecting sticks, each provided, along an upper surface, with a plurality of seatings separated and spaced from each other, which for example can be ten in the case of base ten mathematics, so as to each receive a respective card or token which, in fact, represents the discrete unit of the counting or calculation system adopted. The cards or tokens releasably engage the respective seatings, for example by means of associated magnetic means, thus being selectively removable.

[0044] The collecting sticks can also have reciprocal coupling characteristics, both in a vertical direction, for example being able to be stacked, and also in a horizontal direction, for example being able to be connected side by side on a plane.

[0045] For example, a lower surface of each collecting stick can have a desired number of seatings that can be coupled to another collecting stick on which cards or tokens are present in respective seatings, being able to create stacked structures and therefore more or less complex geometric models.

[0046] The lateral and possibly head and / or tail surfaces can also have one or more mating recesses and / or protrusions so as to achieve a planar releasable geometric coupling between different collecting sticks.

[0047] The device described here has a simple and economical design.

[0048] The device described here provides a visual and geometric support to understand basic and complex arithmetic operations.

[0049] The device described here offers flexibility allowing it to be used for different counting bases and mathematical properties.

[0050] The device described here improves comprehension through visual and practical interaction.

[0051] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0053] - fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device according to some embodiments described here;

[0054] - fig. 2 is a section along line II— II of fig. 1 ;

[0055] - fig. 3 is a section along line III— III of fig. 1 ;

[0056] - fig. 4 is a section of a device according to some embodiments described here;

[0057] - fig. 5 is a top plan view of a device according to other embodiments described here;

[0058] - fig. 6 is a section along line VI-VI of fig. 5;

[0059] - fig. 7 is a three-dimensional view of a device according to other embodiments described here;

[0060] - fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a device according to other embodiments described here.

[0061] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0062] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0063] DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0064] The embodiments described using the attached drawings concern a manual learning aid device 10 for one or more subjects, in particular usable to learn or improve the ability to count and / or perform numerical calculations.

[0065] In some embodiments, the device 10 comprises a plurality of cards or tokens 12 (figs. 1 and 4). These cards or tokens 12 can for example be discoidal elements, or other suitably shaped elements.

[0066] In some embodiments, the device 10 comprises at least one collecting stick, or bar, 14 provided with a longitudinal collection surface 15. This collection surface 15 is, during use, an upper surface of the collecting stick 14.

[0067] There are a plurality of discrete seatings 16 along the longitudinal extension of the collection surface 15, that is, seatings separated and spaced from each other in a desired manner, that is, according to a predefined pitch. These seatings 16 are seatings for positioning the cards or tokens 12.

[0068] In particular, each of the seatings 16 is configured to receive and stably and removably retain a respective card or token 12. This allows to stably keep the card or token 12 in the seating 16, but also to easily remove it.

[0069] In some embodiments, the depth of the seatings 16 is advantageously smaller than half the thickness or height of the card or token 12 (figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6). In this way, a seating 16 accommodates less than half the volume of the card or token 12 positioned therein. Consequently, a larger part of the card or token 12 remains protruding outside the respective seating 16 and a smaller part is instead inside it, so that it is easier for the subject using the device 10 to remove the cards or tokens 12 from the respective seatings 16.

[0070] In some embodiments, the aforementioned stable and removable retention can, for example, be achieved by means of magnets. In particular, according to some embodiments, the device 10 comprises magnetic retention means 18, 20 (figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) associated with each card or token 12 and each seating 16, respectively, and configured to define the stable and removable retention of a card or token 12 in a respective seating 16.

[0071] In some embodiments, the magnetic retention means 18, 20 comprise a magnetic element 18 associated with each seating 16 and a ferromagnetic element 20 associated with each card or token 12, or vice versa.

[0072] For example, each seating 16 can be provided with a blind hole 17 on the bottom which houses the magnetic element 18, or the ferromagnetic element 20 depending on the variants.

[0073] For example, the ferromagnetic element 20, or the magnetic element 18 depending on the variants, can be completely or partly incorporated or embedded in the respective card or token 12. Favorably, the ferromagnetic element 20, or the magnetic element 18 depending on the variants, can be disposed so that it faces out from both surfaces or faces of the card or token 12, so that it can easily magnetically couple in the seating 16 regardless of its orientation (fig. 4).

[0074] It may be preferable for the ferromagnetic element 20 to be associated with the card or token 12 and the magnetic element 18 with the seating 16, to prevent the cards or tokens 12 from being magnetically attracted to each other or to other ferromagnetic elements or components.

[0075] The use of magnetic means for the safe and removable attachment of the cards or tokens 12 ensures greater flexibility and ease of use compared to mechanical attachment methods. However, the possibility that this stable and removable retention is achieved using different means, for example releasable mechanical means, for example snap-in, interference or other, is not excluded.

[0076] In some embodiments, the at least one collecting stick 14 has two opposing lateral surfaces 22, a head surface 24 and a tail surface 26.

[0077] At least one of these surfaces 22, 24, 26 can be provided with one or more coupling elements 30, 32 configured to define a stable and removable coupling with a mating coupling element 30, 32 of at least one other respective collecting stick 14 (figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8).

[0078] In some embodiments, the aforementioned coupling elements comprise protruding portions 30 and mating recessed portions 32 configured for example to define a reciprocal same-shape and / or geometric coupling.

[0079] In some embodiments, a plurality of these coupling elements 30, 32 are disposed in succession along the two lateral surfaces 22, and one or more of the coupling elements 30, 32 are present on the head surface 24 and on the tail surface 26, respectively (figs. 1, 5, 7 and 8).

[0080] For example, in some embodiments, a collecting stick 14 can have one or more protruding portions 30 on the head surface 24 and one or more recessed portions 32 on the tail surface 26. Favorably, it can be provided that the number of protruding portions 30 on the head surface 24 is the same as the number of recessed portions 32 on the tail surface 26.

[0081] For example, in some embodiments, a collecting stick 14 can have a series of protruding portions 30 on one lateral surface 22 and another series of recessed portions 32 on the opposing lateral surface 22. Favorably, it can be provided that the number of protruding portions 30 on one lateral surface 22 is the same as the number of recessed portions 32 on the opposite lateral surface 22, for example ten protruding portions 30 and ten recessed portions 32 if the collecting stick 14 is configured to count and / or calculate in base ten. The pitch at which the protruding portions 30 are disposed on one lateral surface 22 is also favorably coordinated with the pitch at which the recessed portions 32 of the opposite lateral surface 22 are disposed, and possibly also the pitch of the seatings 16.

[0082] Advantageously, by means of the coupling elements 30, 32 described here it is possible to couple several adjacent collecting sticks 14 on a plane, with a horizontal or vertical development, for example side-wise and / or head and / or tail-wise, so that they are side by side and stably constrained to each other, albeit in a releasable manner, being able to create various and different configurations of reciprocal positioning and development on the plane of the same collecting sticks 14, as required.

[0083] In some embodiments, the aforementioned at least one collecting stick 14 has a coupling surface 28 opposing the collection surface 15. This coupling surface 28 is, during use, a lower surface of the collecting stick 14. This coupling surface 28 is provided with a plurality of discrete coupling seatings 34, that is, spaced apart and separated by a desired pitch. These coupling seatings 34 are in a number mating with the number of the seatings 16, and each of them is configured to define a reciprocal stable and removable same-shape and / or geometric coupling with a respective card or token 12 disposed in a seating 16 of another collecting stick 14, when this at least one collecting stick 14 is disposed stacked on the other respective collecting stick 14.

[0084] In some embodiments, these coupling seatings 34 have a larger size and depth than the seatings 16 in which the cards or tokens 12 are positioned, which is compatible with the above-described embodiments in which the seatings 16 have a depth that is advantageously smaller than half the thickness or height of the card or token 12.

[0085] Advantageously, by providing the coupling seatings 34 it is possible to create stacked structures, that is, structures with a vertical development, of collecting sticks 14.

[0086] The possibility of creating geometric structures or models of removably coupled collecting sticks 14 that develop adjacent to each other on a horizontal or vertical plane and / or stacked vertically, that is, also three-dimensional structures or models, not only ones with a planar development (figs. 6, 7 and 8), allows to provide an effective visual and geometric support for carrying out not only calculations but also basic and even more complex mathematical operations, such as exponents, since the distances of the seatings 16 can be equidistant both on a horizontal plane, longitudinally and transversely, and also in a vertical direction.

[0087] In some embodiments, in correspondence with each seating 16 there is a numerical code 36 that is progressive with respect to a numerical code 36 of an adjacent seating 16, so as to define a continuous and ordered succession of numerical codes 36, for example from one to ten, progressively increasing from a first seating 16a of a first end 38 of the collecting stick 14 to a last seating 16b of a second end 40 of the collecting stick 14.

[0088] In some embodiments, the aforementioned at least one collecting stick 14 comprises ten seatings 16 and the continuous and ordered succession of numerical codes 36 goes from one to ten, from the first seating 16a to the last seating 16b.

[0089] In some embodiments, the aforementioned at least one collecting stick 14 can be made of polymeric material, in particular polymeric plastic material, favorably non-toxic.

[0090] In some embodiments, the cards or tokens 12 can also be made of polymeric material, in particular polymeric plastic material, favorably non-toxic.

[0091] In some embodiments, the material with which the aforementioned at least one collecting stick 14 is made can be transparent. This solution can be advantageous in the event that several collecting sticks 14 are coupled together, horizontally and / or stacked vertically, with not only planar but also three-dimensional development, since it allows to visualize the cards or tokens 12 that are placed in the seatings 16 of the various collecting sticks 14 even if the cards or tokens 12 are inside the structures or models thus obtained (for example fig. 8), because the transparent material allows to see through them.

[0092] In some embodiments, the aforementioned at least one collecting stick 14 can have a notch, slot or cut 42 (fig. 1 ), or equivalent visualization mean, or indicator mean, that visually separates a certain number or group of seatings 16 of the collecting stick 14 from another certain number or group of seatings 16. For example, in the event the device 10 is designed for base ten counting and calculation, there are ten seatings 16 and the notch, slot or cut 42 can separate five seatings 16 from the other five seatings 16, so as to give a visual indication that is also correlated to the number of fingers of the subject’s hands.

[0093] In some embodiments, the device 10 comprises a plurality of the aforementioned collecting sticks 14 as described above. In this way, and thanks to the characteristics of the horizontal and / or vertically stacked coupling of the aforementioned collecting sticks 14, the device 10 can be used as a learning aid kit for several subjects, or even for a single subject, with the possibility of creating the most complex geometric structures or models described above, and therefore also acting as an aid for basic and more complex mathematical calculations.

[0094] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the device 10 as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0095] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Manual learning aid device (10) for one or more subjects, in particular usable to learn or improve the ability to count and / or perform numerical calculations, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of cards or tokens (12) and at least one collecting stick (14) provided with a longitudinal collection surface (15) along the extension of which there are a plurality of discrete seatings (16), each configured to receive and stably and removably retain a respective card or token (12).

2. Device (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises magnetic retention means (18, 20) associated with each card or token (12) and each seating (16), respectively, and configured to define the stable and removable retention of a card or token (12) in a respective seating (16).

3. Device (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said magnetic retention means (18, 20) comprise a magnetic element (18) associated with each seating (16) and a ferromagnetic element (20) associated with each card or token (12), or vice versa.

4. Device (10) as in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one collecting stick (14) has two opposing lateral surfaces (22), a head surface (24) and a tail surface (26), at least one of which surfaces (22, 24, 26) is provided with one or more coupling elements (30, 32) configured to define a stable and removable coupling with a mating coupling element (30, 32) of at least one other respective collecting stick (14).

5. Device (10) as in claim 4, characterized in that said coupling elements comprise protruding portions (30) and mating recessed portions (32) configured to define a reciprocal same-shape and / or geometric coupling.

6. Device (10) as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a plurality of said coupling elements (30, 32) are disposed in succession along said two lateral surfaces (22), and one or more of said coupling elements (30, 32) are present on said head surface (24) and on said one tail surface (26).

7. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said at least one collecting stick (14) has a coupling surface (28) opposing said collection surface (15) and provided with a plurality of discrete coupling seatings (34) in a number mating with the number of said seatings (16) and each configured to define a reciprocal stable and removable same-shape and / or geometric coupling with arespective card or token (12) disposed in a seating (16) of another collecting stick (14) when said at least one collecting stick (14) is disposed stacked on said other respective collecting stick (14).

8. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that in correspondence with each seating (16) there is a numerical code (36) progressive with respect to a numerical code (36) of an adjacent seating (16), so as to define a continuous and ordered succession of numerical codes (36) progressively increasing from a first seating (16a) of a first end (38) of the collecting stick (14) to a last seating (16b) of a second end (40) of the collecting stick (14).

9. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises ten seatings (16) and the continuous and ordered succession of numerical codes (36) goes from one to ten, from said first seating (16a) to said last seating (16b).

10. Device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said at least one collecting stick (14) has a notch, slot or cut (42) which visually separates a certain number or group of seatings (16) of the collecting stick (14) from another certain number or group of seatings (16).

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