Calculators
Calculators in the Classroom
As the world changes and grows, more things are created to make people's everyday lives easier. One tool that can be used in school to help facilitate math is the calculator. This technology allows students to use a machine to obtain answers instead of using PPA (Paper and Pencil Arithmetic). Like any technology, there is
fear on how to best use it to help facilitate growth in students. If the calculator is used properly in the classroom, it can be a beneficial tool for pupils. The
calculator enables students to concentrate on math instead of focusing on tedious tasks that are not used in everyday life such as long division. If the calculator
becomes a tool that elementary students use more often in the classroom, it will only help them become better students of mathematics over time.
One of the many things that prevent the calculator from being more widely used in the elementary school are the many negative myths about calculators and how
they adversely affect students in elementary schools. One belief that is held by many parents and teachers is that calculators hinder students’ ability to grow as
thinkers. People believe that the calculator is doing the work instead of the students. This idea is absurd. Pupils need to push the buttons on the machine and in
the correct order to come up with the right answer (Lambdin, Lindquist, Reys, Smith & Suydam, 2001). In fact the calculator enables the student to use more of
their intellect because the machine allows the student to free itself from performing arduous tasks which allows the student to focus on how he or she obtained the
answer (Lambdin et al, 2001).
Another impediment to using ca...
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...ad to be done so the results
would be precise. This one experiment involving a tool of mathematics integrated science and math. This is just one way that the calculators can be used to benefit
elementary students.
If the calculator is used properly in the classroom, it can be a great tool that benefits students and teachers. This machine allows teachers to focus on other
school subjects that they would have spent on teaching aspects of mathematics that are no longer used today. The tool is beneficial to the pupil because if it is used
properly, it allows the student to spend time on how they came to answer instead of reaching the answer and leaving class because time ran out. As teachers and
students use the calculator on regular basis, more people will see that in fact it is a tool that is necessary for the student to grow and not a hindrance.
...Raskind and Stanberry (2010) state, “the auditory feedback may help a student check the accuracy of the keys he presses and verify the answer” (p. 1), which clarifies that these special calculators can positively affect students.
...o get attracted by easy and quick ways of learning things. If the technology provides easy and attractive solutions to students, they will get addicted to it and overuse it in ways which can certainly drop the educational standards. Gelernter disagrees with the comment made by a school principle, “Drilling addition and subtraction in an age of calculators is a waste of time.” (279). He revels the bitter truth where American students are not fully prepared for college because they have poorly developed basic skills. In contrast to this reality, he comments, “No wonder Japanese kids blow the pants of American kids in math.” (280). He provides the information from Japanese educator that in Japan, kids are not allowed to use calculators till high school. Due to this, Japanese kids build strong foundation of basic math skills which make them perform well in mathematics.
He states: “Over the last decade an estimated $2 billion has been spent on more than 2 million computers for America’s classroom.”(Gelernter 97) Gelernter starts his article by giving a data about computer to shows how much money people spends computer in school. By giving a legitimate fact right from the beginning of his article, Gelernter easily get his audience attention and make them little more interested in what he is going to say about how computers can make a big impact in everyone’s life. And this fact itself works as proof to prove to his audience that the topic he is talking about is realistic because they are not debatable; they represent the truth. Gelernter also uses logos to prove his point about how calculators make student forget about their basic math skills. Gelernter says, “In Kentucky, as The Wall Street Journal recently reported, students in grades K-3 are mixed together regardless of age in relaxed environment. It works great, the Journal says. Yes, scores on computation tests have dropped 10 percent at one school.”(98) The author did his research and see that using calculator in such young age can really affect student, calculators make student have a lower grade than average even though it supposed to help students in the first place. He continues his argument by comparing Japanese kids and American kids and how Japanese kids are so much better in math than American
Prior to teaching the concept, I asked the educator if her students would benefit and she expressed how much this skill would benefit them. She teaches math in the classroom if students are struggling with
I took one look at that contraption, with all of its confusing measurement markers and immediately felt lucky to have my calculator, which did not look nearly as complicated as his old slide rule. From that point on I remember my father always taught me that technology was a useful tool that could aid me in my learning process. Throughout my young life he provided me with many technical toys and computer games that helped me to learn things like basic math and reading. He felt that if I had fun learning, then I would always want to learn.
For the teacher, computer technology can lead to more efficient time management in record keeping and developing lessons plans as well as the ease of conducting any kind of research and communication without having to leave the classroom.
Mathematics is part of our everyday life. Things you would not expect to involve math
...nd dynamic changes in the competitive nature of the job market, it is evident to myself that being eloquent in all aspects of numeracy tools and knowledge is imperative in the 21st Century. The calculator is one such tool for children which supports mental computation to check answers to develop independent learning, as discussed earlier. It also fits into the pre-operation developmental stage of a child to enhance their symbolic thinking, similar to that of an adults scheme of thinking, as opposed reliance on senses alone. The interviews further grounded my reasoning around my argument and allowed me to not only gain an insight to how those similar to me think and those not so similar. This investigation has strengthened my argument that the use of calculators in the primary school classroom, if used appropriately, are an invaluable tool for teaching and learning.
During my education, teachers have had many more resources available to them than they did during my Grandpa's time. Calculators, computers, and TV are everyday tools used for teaching. Teachers taught us how to use a calculator at a very early age. Since the fifth grade, I have used a computer to write or research most of my asiments. Every year, the amount of work I do on a computer increases.
Wenglinsky, H. (1998). Does it compute? The relationship between educational technology and student achievement in mathematics. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service. Retrieved March 6, 2002, from ftp://ftp.ets.org/pub/res/technolog.pdf.
After viewing the video by Wolfram (2010), I believe that as teachers we need to prepare more for using computers. Most of my students have a smartphone. And they use it for almost everything, including using the calculator. “Using new technologies involves time, effort, and a rethinking of instructional approaches.” (Sousa. 2015, p. 129). I learned math in a paper, and I love it, but I feel that today that is not enough for our students. Our students get bored about doing calculation the whole time on a piece of paper. Wolfram (2010) questioned, “Do we really believe that the math that most people are doing in school practically today is more than applying procedures to problems they don 't really understand, for reasons they don 't get?”
...ous basis for instruction and assessment (Calculators: Good or Bad). Calculators have become a part of our curriculum and students need to be taught how to properly use the technology as our world continues to become a more efficient place.
...assroom. Sometimes there are people that it would not help learn because they need that face-to-face learning. It is just the way that they learn that it could benefit them or it could not . It should be up to the students on it they want to use the old fashion pen and paper or this new technology.
Throughout out this semester, I’ve had the opportunity to gain a better understanding when it comes to teaching Mathematics in the classroom. During the course of this semester, EDEL 440 has showed my classmates and myself the appropriate ways mathematics can be taught in an elementary classroom and how the students in the classroom may retrieve the information. During my years of school, mathematics has been my favorite subject. Over the years, math has challenged me on so many different levels. Having the opportunity to see the appropriate ways math should be taught in an Elementary classroom has giving me a
Technology properly used in the classroom has many advantages to a student’s learning. Technology can help students become more involved in their own learning process, which is not seen in the traditional classroom. It allows them to master basic skills at their own rate rather than being left behind. Teachers and students alike can connect to real life situations by using technology in the classroom; this can also help to prepare students for real world situations. Technology can be used to motivate students as well as to offer more challenging opportunities. It can also be used as a visualization tool to keep students interested in the subject that is being taught. When technology is used effectively, students have the opportunity to develop skills that they may not get without the use of technology (Cleaver, 2011). Assessing and monitoring students is easier on the teacher because of the ability to use technology in the classroom. When technology is used correctly it offers limitless resources to a classroom atmosphere.