what shouldn't they be used for?
2006-12-19 18:53:38 · 5 answers · asked by smokesha 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
The administrators at my school are split on this topic because it is a very tricky one! I personally feel that once you get to the secondary level (unless it is a basic skills/remedial class) that the calculator is a tool that should be used whenever possible. I teach 7th grade math and I let the students use the calculators for nearly everything. We live in such a technological time that it does not make sense to me to not allow them. Some say it is "dumbing math down" however I think that using a calculator is an advanced skill in itself, especially the graphing/scientific varieties! I have taught entire lessons specifically on how to efficiently utilize the calculator--a mathematicians greatest tool!
2006-12-20 09:19:14 · answer #1 · answered by Carrie D 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the point of the lesson is to learn how to do basic calculation then it should be pencil and paper. But once the lesson goes on to other things i.e. finding the mean, determining volume, etc. then I say use calaulators. Then you put the focus on learning the steps for finding a mean or a volume rather than bogging people down with adding and multiplying numbers. I try to put myself into the shoes oif a real-live person solving a problem. If I had to find out how much surface area I had to paint in my house and needed to calculate how much the paint will cost, you can bet that my first step would be to find my calculator. If that's what I would do in real life, then why not do it that way in the classroom?
2006-12-19 20:50:36 · answer #2 · answered by baldisbeautiful 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They should be used only for calculations that would be unnecessarily tedious when done on paper.
In my experience, once students become accustomed to using calculators for simple calculations, they begin to use them for everything and lose the ability to do math in their heads.
2006-12-19 22:30:04 · answer #3 · answered by Iris 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They have built-in mental calculator.
Why are they not using it?
All it needs is programming their soft-ware.
How can they call themselves intelligent design.
When the disk operating system is blank in planet of apes.
Should package with all the formulaes inside.
Ready to use.
Battery is not required.
2006-12-20 01:16:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
they should be used for calculations.....as d calculations in secondary and university level is more complicated and usage of d calculators wud safe time
2006-12-19 19:13:04 · answer #5 · answered by Jaymey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋