Technology has become one of the driving forces of modern mathematics. Computers do the algorithms once done with pencil and paper and a scientific calculator is used to extract square roots. Math is the study of the structure of theorems and applications. You can get to the meaning of mathematics and its application far more quickly through a technology-enhanced approach. Often times I am so impressed with what calculators can do, however, the students just expect it because they've grown up with them.
Many standardized tests incorporate a calculator as part of the mathematics and science portions.
Attending a workshop such as those offered through the T3, Teachers Teaching With Technology, summer workshop series, is a good way to get started. Many teachers find working through an introductory chapter with another teacher especially helpful. Perhaps the most noticeable change one can make when using calculators to teach math is in the basic classroom setup. Where desks once stood, tables and chairs which are more conducive to laboratory-style work now stand. If chairs and tables are not available, teachers can simply push the desks together to create the lab environment.