Calculators in the Math Classroom

by Jim McCue
(Boise, Idaho)

Hello Fellow Math Teachers,

I have another survey question for you:

Do you allow calculators in your math class and why ?

I was shocked to see students who did not know their times table, could not do simple mind calculations like adding 8 + 7,multiply by 10 or 100.

What age do you believe students should be allowed to use calculators in class?

I strongly believe the use of calculators in math classes is having a direct impact on students ability to use their own minds to perform simple 'mental' calculations.

This ability to do 'lighting math' as my college accounting professor called it is being lost by the current generation of students in schools.

Now I teach community college math and I observe the younger students struggle with this while the older students are quick in their minds doing the mental calculations.

While I believe a calculator should be used for difficult problems such as 8543.3 divided by 567.4, students should be able to divide 85 by 5 !! at the very least be able to perform 'side work' to determine the answer.

Thanks for your input,

Jim McCue

Comments for
Calculators in the Math Classroom

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 18, 2011
Rating

My experience
by: Sketch

I have recently completed an Access to Higher Education course in the UK and as part of the course we studied A-level maths. During class time I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with other student's lack of ability to perform simple calculations in their heads and their over-reliance on calculators. While my maths tutor had no problem with this and encouraged the class to depend on their calculators I would openly speak up and correct him, insisting that knowing WHY the answers are found is vastly more important than being able to produce a correct answer. I understand why this has troubled you to the point of posting a survey but can I just add that relying on calculators is not something exclusive to the younger generations as I was the youngest person on my course by quite a bit. The average age of the class was around 30-35 and sadly the majority of the class would use their calculators for sums as simple as 3 times 9 (I kid you not).

Sketch, age 20.

Dec 31, 2009
Rating

Calculators in the Classroom
by: Karin

Hi Jim,

Another great survey question! I think that this is a very frustrating problem for many teachers! It's difficult to teach the higher level skills when students can't get passed the basic math facts. Then when you throw integer rules on top - it not only adds to our frustration, but to our students' frustrations as well!

Unfortunately, I believe that many students in the elementary school are not encouraged to "memorize" their math facts. I believe that this is due to how the curriculum has changed over the years! Since we have moved away from traditional ways of learning, there is a serious impact on our students in higher level math classes. The question is: what can we as teachers do?

I don't have a solution, but let me think on that one....

I did not allow calculators for purposes of calculating. After learning the Algebra skills (on paper) I did teach students how to use the graphing calculator functions to check their answers. I felt that this was preparing them for higher level math classes!

We'd love to hear your ideas if anyone else experiences this problem!

To Your Success,
Karin

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Teaching Algebra

Having Trouble with Your Homework?

HOME

Helpful Resources

Print This Site
Algebra E-courses
Algebra Practice Test
Algebra Readiness Test

Pre-Algebra

Tools for Algebra
Integers
One-Step Equations
Probability

Algebra 1 Units

Pre-Algebra Refresher
Solving Equations
Graphing Equations
Writing Equations
Systems of Equations
Inequalities
Functions
Exponents & Monomials
Polynomials
Quadratic Equations
Algebra 1 Final Exam