The calculator became yet another "tool" in the mathematics teacher's tool-belt that could assist students with rote calculation, serve as a check to homework and minimize error in larger student projects where the focus is not on the calculation.
Yes, in mathematics the calculator is a technology source that continues to expand and develop. There are now so many applications and mathematical expressions that you can solve with the simple use of a calculator. Before the calculator was used mainly to avoid computational errors with basic arithmetic like adding, subtracting, multiplying and division, but now you can solve determinants, calculate R squared in statistics and even use it in probability. The calculator is a great source of technology in mathematics.
Yes, it's true that in math, the calculator has become another "tool" for teachers to use. Like Cara, I do believe that calculators are now an essential part of teaching mathematics, but we also have to be careful of not turning this "aid" into a "crutch." Being able to perform rote calculations, especially simple arithmetic, is still an essential part of daily life where a calculator is not always readily available. But you do make a good point, stating that calculators could "...serve as a check to homework and minimize error in large student projects where focus isn't on calculation."
Calculator use has come a long way since the "early days" of just being used as means of checking computational homework, to being used to quickly and effectively solving complex equations.
Great tag line with that picture. I agree that calculators should be used to calculate larger numbers, in areas where the focus is not on calculation, but concept understanding. For example, writing radicals in simplest forms or finding percent changes. The calculator helps to cut down on time so that a student can focus on the method instead on how many times 9 goes into 792.
Yes, in mathematics the calculator is a technology source that continues to expand and develop. There are now so many applications and mathematical expressions that you can solve with the simple use of a calculator. Before the calculator was used mainly to avoid computational errors with basic arithmetic like adding, subtracting, multiplying and division, but now you can solve determinants, calculate R squared in statistics and even use it in probability. The calculator is a great source of technology in mathematics.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's true that in math, the calculator has become another "tool" for teachers to use. Like Cara, I do believe that calculators are now an essential part of teaching mathematics, but we also have to be careful of not turning this "aid" into a "crutch." Being able to perform rote calculations, especially simple arithmetic, is still an essential part of daily life where a calculator is not always readily available. But you do make a good point, stating that calculators could "...serve as a check to homework and minimize error in large student projects where focus isn't on calculation."
ReplyDeleteCalculator use has come a long way since the "early days" of just being used as means of checking computational homework, to being used to quickly and effectively solving complex equations.
Great tag line with that picture. I agree that calculators should be used to calculate larger numbers, in areas where the focus is not on calculation, but concept understanding. For example, writing radicals in simplest forms or finding percent changes. The calculator helps to cut down on time so that a student can focus on the method instead on how many times 9 goes into 792.
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