Introduction
I believe that calculators are an essential tool for mathematics education in schools and universities. The argument for the use of calculators focusses on the potential for this technology to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics. In light of the South African economic climate it is argued that the hand-held calculator is most likely to be the most affordable mechanism available to provide learner’s with access to technology in mathematics. Modern calculators have been designed to support secondary school mathematics education at various levels. A major element of calculator use involves individual exploration of mathematical ideas, for which a personal technological device is ideally suited. The hand-held calculator should be a standard item of equipment for students learning mathematics and teachers teaching mathematics (Kissane, 2012).
Background
Many researchers have noted that teachers are central to the intelligent use of calculators in schools, and thus will need well-designed support to ensure that calculators are appropriately used. Some of this support will take the form of professional development of various kinds, but it will also be necessary for materials to be developed to suit the needs of teachers in classrooms. As suggested by Kissane (2003), teachers need to be confident users of technology themselves before they will effectively help their students, so that the early phases of professional development for teachers might need to concentrate on the development of expertise with a calculator, before expecting that teachers can take the adventurous step of using them in a classroom. A second step might involve the production of exemplary materials, well tried in local schools and found to...
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Working as an Instructional Technology Specialist for the past seven years has provided many opportunities to observe teachers and students in a classroom setting. During this time teachers have been in the process of phasing in a new standards-based curriculum with an emphasis on student mastery of these standards. New technology tools have also been incorporated in many classrooms including studen...
Virtual manipulative tools are now also available for use in the classroom. It ranges from simple counting blocks to geoboards and tangram puzzles. Instead of reading about a math concept or working out a problem on paper, a student will work with a physical object to better understand what he/she is learning. The concrete representation is useful at all levels of math, from a preschooler using blocks to strengthen counting skills to an older student using fraction models to understand equivalent fractions.
Over the past few decades technology has advanced quite a bit. The use of calculators, computers, and other techniques in many fields has increased significantly. In a large scale, technology is replacing the method of instruction in the field of education. Many people believe that adopting technology in learning process can increase productivity. However, David Gelernter, who is a professor at Yale University as well as a leading figure in the field of technology, suggests to limit the use of technology in the classroom in his article “Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom” which was published in the New Republic magazine in 1994. In this article he offers well illustrated analysis which makes the readers to regulate the use of technology in the classroom. He thinks that the technology comes in a way of building strong foundation of basic skills. He insists that computers should be used to aid the learning process, not to replace cognitive thinking.
Mathematics has become a very large part of society today. From the moment children learn the basic principles of math to the day those children become working members of society, everyone has used mathematics at one point in their life. The crucial time for learning mathematics is during the childhood years when the concepts and principles of mathematics can be processed more easily. However, this time in life is also when the point in a person’s life where information has to be broken down to the very basics, as children don’t have an advanced capacity to understand as adults do. Mathematics, an essential subject, must be taught in such a way that children can understand and remember.
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In the article “Technology in the Classroom: Beginnings and Endings”, Mary Ann Matras suggests that, “The pencil is still the most efficient tool”. Many people will agree with her argument because students have learned that way for many years and it has worked. It is also a common fact that when a person writes something down with a pen or pencil they are more likely to remember the information rather than typing it. Author, Mary Ann Matras continues to explain more about why the pencil is a powerful tool, ” When a student can use a pencil to do a calculation faster than and as well as, he or she can do it with a computer or calculator, then the tool for the job should be the pencil,” Mary Ann Matras states. Another issue that classrooms have with technology is that it takes away class time. If a student can do their work as fast as a computer than they don’t need the computer, it is better for them to work it out by themselves. Also, if it takes the same amount of time as writing with a pencil does than a pencil is a better
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However, technology should never substitute the fundamental learning in our educational systems. Specifically, in primary school, building a firm fundamental education is crucial. Seeing children still using fingers to do simple math in second grade is not a good sign of academic improvement. Though the students may easily figure out the answers by using a calculator, before letting the children get any closer to these technical gadgets, they have to first learn to figure out the answers themselves.... ... middle of paper ... ...
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...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.
Mundy, M., Kupczynski, L. and Kee, R. 2012, “Teacher's Perceptions of Technology Use in the Schools”, SAGE Open, pp. 1-8, viewed 15 Jan 2014, retrieved from Sage Online Article.