Just Dollars and Cents: Making Change via a Virtual Money Manipulative

Abstract

Providing high-quality services to students with disabilities in rural settings can be challenging, as rural schools often lack resources both in and out of the classroom. One potential option to provide high-quality mathematics instruction to students with disabilities in rural areas is using virtual manipulatives and online instruction. In this study, a single-case research design was used to examine the progress of three high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) as they used a virtual money manipulative within an online learning environment to solve making change problems. The researchers found a functional relation between the intervention package (i.e., a virtual money manipulative, modeling, system of least prompts) and the dependent variable of accuracy in solving making change problems across three students. In addition, all three students demonstrated an increase in independence during each session and maintained their accuracy and independence after the intervention concluded.