REALIA, MODEL, AND MANIPULATIVES

Description

REALIA MODEL MANIPULATIVES

Realia are objects from real life Models are near-perfect
used in classroom instruction by 3D representations
educators to improve students' of real things. They are
understanding of other cultures either reduced
and real-life situations (able to see scale or enlarged in
what real life is). scale.
Manipulative materials
are any concrete objects
that allow students to
in explore an idea in a
hands-on approach.

Usage
- They can be useful in Using models, follow the same
guidelines as when using realia, plus - Manipulatives are
presenting a fascinating
the following: particularly well suited
learning experience
- Present the model in such a to content for which
while improving the
manner as to help the learner discovery learning is
retention of concepts
understand the size of the real preferred.
learned.
object, - They let the student
- Real objects are
- be sure the model is in definite connect ideas and
especially appropriate
proportion to the real object, of the symbols to physical
for learners
same color, etc. and objects, thus promoting
who are encountering a
- use working models when better understanding.
subject about which
they have had little movement is essential to
direct experience in understanding the lesson.
their
daily lives.

Example

Examples of models are:

Real objects such as Manipulatives can be
train sets; model cars
real specimens of almost anything –
and planes; doll houses
plants or animals and blocks, shapes, spinners
and furniture; and
real machines or tools or even paper that is
animal or human
as they are known to cut or folded.
figurines.
exist or used in life
situations.

Replica - an exact
reproduction by the
original artist.

Miniature - a copy on a
much reduced size.

Mockups - are simplified

representations of
complex devices.

Diorama - a static
display consisting of a three
d imensional foreground
and a flat background to
create a realistic scene.

Strengths
Realia provides learners with - Models have all of the Manipulatives
multi-sensory impressions advantages of realia plus teach underlying values and
of the subject through the following: skills.
seeing, hearing, touching, Models enable the instructor Students feel more
and manipulating items. to use items even when the capable and competent.
It has been found to be real item is impractical due They will see real life
useful to improve the to size, applications of concepts.
retention of concepts models can be purchased from Rather than teaching them
learned in the classroom. commercial firms or they can concepts, manipulatives allow
Real specimens such as be homemade by the them to literally grasp each
plants, machines or tools instructor and/or the students, situation and they will feel
enrich learning and make it having students make models the relevance of the concepts.
more concrete, authentic enhances learning and It attracts a lot of attention,
and interesting as the learner provides motivation, when and can keep it as long as it is
is made to handle them. students make models, developmentally appropriate.
and many subject areas
are combined in an inter-
disciplinary manner.

Weaknesses
-Costly. For virtual
- Not all of realia can be Models have the same
brought into the deficiencies as the use manipulatives, the
classroom, such as wild of realia plus the students have to
animals, transportation, following: have individual
seven wonders, and object - buying models, especially computers.
-Has to be carefully
may be too large (a working models, can be
submarine) or too small (a costly, - producing home- planned and takes a
single human cell) for made models can be lot of time.
-Storage. It can be
classroom study. costly as well as very time
- Realia o f ten are consuming, and difficult to find
expensive. - since models are built to storage space for
scale, students may manipulatives.
misinterpret the actual size - Fragility. Some
of the object manipulatives are easily
broken or damaged
and may then become
unusable.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realia_(education)
https://text-id.123dok.com/document/dzx581g4q-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-using-realia-descriptive-text.html
http://orion.neiu.edu/~sdundis/hrd310/models.pdf
https://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/AlexMunro/SiteCollectionDocuments/math_manipulatives.pdf http://manipulati
velearning.blogspot.com/p/advantages-and-disadvantages.html#:~:text=Costly.,(both%20virtual%20and%20concrete).
From Chapter 11 of Instructional Technology and Media for Learning, 10/e. Sharon E. Smaldino. Deborah L. Lowther. James D.
Russell. Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education