Apr 2021 New: Online Abacus Calculator and How to Improve Your Maths With It

We broke down the various aspects of online abacus calculators and classes and also discussed the differences between online and offline classes.

A table in the article will help you choose the right platform for your learning needs.
 

I'm the author of this article and I'm a qualified abacus teacher, answering questions from around the world online abacus and various questions from online-soroban.com students.

Table of contents

Learning the abacus is one of the most versatile and rewarding skills.

It has been observed to improve a ton of positive characteristics in the students and has also been linked to feelings of relaxation.

Many psychology theories even suggest that the abacus can provide a positive effect on the students, helping them wind down.

But a very important question still remains.

Being the age of computers and the internet, the soroban is available in the old school way - the real soroban and also the new way - a virtual abacus.

Which one is better? In this article, we shall discuss exactly that.
 

1-1.All You Need to Know About Online Abacus Calculator

Abacus is a practical device, has its courses designed in a slightly different manner as courses of other theoretical disciplines like physics for example.

In most soroban classes, a major amount of emphasis is given on applying the learned skills to the soroban itself, rather than blatantly memorizing the formulae.

This approach helps the students become more and more comfortable with the actual form of the soroban.

Let us discuss in detail the various features of a generic soroban class.

Focussed on practical application As discussed above, soroban courses lay less emphasis on memorization and rote and more emphasis on actual enactment and practice on the soroban itself.

The students are able to see in real-time how the rules being taught work out on the abacus, this helps build a firm link between the theory and reality which is a special feature of soroban classes.

Small segments Abacus attracts a wide variety of people.

Most learners are students, but in the field, we also see adults, and even older people just looking to expand their horizon of knowledge.

The courses are therefore universally designed.

This means that the segments, or modules as they are also commonly called, can be easily understood by anyone as long as they are willing to learn.

The person has to be willing to learn, that's all, the courses are lucid enough to be understandable by learners of all ages.

Regular tests Online Soroban classes will offer regular tests.

If you remember from the previous point, the modules or segments are universally designed.

That means they are designed to be understood by a wide range of people.

Many people complain that the classes are not customized or personal enough.

That gap is bridged by the help of regular tests.

These tests are personalized and the questions asked will focus exactly on the aspects that the learner will be facing troubles in understanding.

1-2.The Difference Between Online Abacus Calculators and Offline Ones

Both online and offline platforms of learning soroban are fairly advanced.

While the abacus is traditionally an offline activity, the online and virtual classes have proven to be equally successful.

As such, it would not be correct to paint one as better over the other.

It really just depends on the learner themselves.

Here we will try to contrast some differences so you can make an informed choice regarding learning soroban online or offline.

Online Soroban Characteristics: Hands-on Experience: Exists but not with virtual soroban Repetition of material: Available Time flexibility: Very flexible Course costs: Generally cheaper Personalized tests: Available on some websites Global certification: Available Offline Soroban Characteristics: Hands-on Experience: Always available Repetition of material: Not available in most cases Time flexibility: Quite inflexible Course costs: Relatively costlier Personalized tests: Available with most abacus tutors Global certification: Not Available In the table above we have highlighted the main points which one should be aware of before choosing an online or offline course.

1-3. Requirements to Begin Online Abacus Calculator Classes

Like any skill, beginning to learn the soroban has some prerequisites that the candidates must possess.

Without these, learning the soroban doesn’t really add any real benefit.

Moreover, learners would not even appreciate the awesome tool that the abacus is.

Here we list out the main ingredients needed to get you started!

Basic Maths: This one is perhaps the most quintessential.

If you do not already know the basics of arithmetic, then an abacus won’t really help you.

It would actually backfire and cause you more trouble.

It is recommended that the person has a good grasp of numbers, their working, and the arithmetic operations before they take up any soroban courses.

An actual abacus: Taking an abacus course without an abacus is basically like learning to ride a bicycle with a book alone.

No matter how much you read it, the actual experience that’s gained is completely different.

The same goes for the soroban.

Simply learning the material is not good enough.

You must apply it to the beads.

So, definitely consider buying an actual soroban.

Discipline: Regular discipline is needed to learn pretty much every skill out there.

If you don’t do it with discipline, you just won’t get the results right.

So having the right mindset and the right discipline definitely helps.

The willingness to learn: Seriously, this one should not be missed.

Even if you made all the other preparations, you will not see any results if you’re missing this one. Have the willingness and the open-mindedness to learn.

Overall  
An abacus is a beautiful tool.

When used in the right manner it can significantly boost the mathematical prowess and creative thinking of the learners.

When dealt with in an uncaring manner though, it will only work to defeat you.

Lastly, we also discussed the prerequisites needed to learn the soroban properly.

Make sure you have the right mindset and meet all the prerequisites to make the most of any abacus courses you decide to take!