Appropriate use of technology and associated pedagogy will get more students thinking and reasoning mathematically. Thus more people will develop useful mathematical understanding and mathematical power. Calculators now come in a number of sizes and styles, and they cover a tremendous range of capabilities, functions, and prices. Despite the myths of harmful consequences resulting from their use, calculators are a pedagogical tool of great value. Teachers of different grade levels and the general public harbor varying preconceived beliefs as far as the use of calculators in the classroom is concerned.
Fears regarding the ill effects of calculator use, however, are unfounded.
Research has proven that calculators are beneficial to students at every level of education. Calculators serve as an equalizer in mathematics education. Not only do they allow students who would ordinarily be turned off by traditional mathematics tedious computations and algorithms to experience true mathematics, but they also help students to more quickly and readily develop number sense, gain mathematical insight and reasoning skills, value mathematics, and cultivate mathematical understanding, while they enjoy what they are learning. Texas Instruments Incorporated. All rights reserved.