Calculators in the Classroom (Role of Technology)

Calculators in the Classroom

How can technology support the mathematics classroom?

Graphic calculators are powerful tools that not only provide students the opportunity to explore functions visually, but also give students who have mastered basic skills the ability to extend their knowledge more expediently. Graphic calculators are pre-loaded with useful applications in areas such as statistics, regression, and finance, among many others. In addition, advanced users can also program the calculator themselves to add even more functionality.

Texas Instruments models have been typically used for high schools and universities since the late 1990s. The TI-84 model was first introduced in 2004. However, the price has not seen much decline over that period (as would be expected with most technological products). With new technologies appearing more frequently, any decision to use expensive equipment must be approached very carefully.

Even so, the TI-83 and TI-84 models are highly applicable to the 10, 20, and 30 levels of each pathway in Saskatchewan Mathematics curricula. If physical units are available to all students, they can be a great resource. Otherwise, alternatives should be considered, as in the chart below:

Digital Graphing Calculators

Search terms: graphing, calculator, graph, function, online

Link

Description

TI 83 Interactive Calculator

Search terms: ti-83, ti-84 emulator, simulated, virtual

Virtual TI-83 calculator emulator

runs on any laptop, or the teacher can use and project on a whiteboard.
pending Division approval, students can search smartphone apps stores for emulators

Desmos Graphing Calculator

Search terms: desmos, graphing, calculator

Desmos online graphing calculator

includes both the web-client version and a smartphone app version
can also be programmed by advanced users for specific scenarios

(This list is representative. It is neither an exhaustive list nor a deliberately curated list.)

Digital Statistics Calculators

(ie: z-scores and standard deviation, for Math Foundations 20)

Search terms: online, stats, calculator, statistics, deviation

Link	Description
Statistics Calculator	For statistics (ie: z-scores and standard deviation, for Math Foundations 20)
Meta Calculator	It can do all the basics like calculating quartiles, mean, median, mode, variance, standard deviation as well as the correlation coefficient. Can also do almost any kind of regression analysis (linear, quadratic, exponential, cubic , power, logarithmic and natural Logarithmic). The regressions and points can then be graphed. Can Compute student 1 or 2-Tailed T-Tests (paired and unpaired). You can enter raw data and then calculate T-tests.
Free Online Statistics Calculators	Mathportal.org has a variety of stats calculators on its site.

(This list is representative. It is neither an exhaustive list nor a deliberately curated list.)

Digital Finance Calculators

(ie: future value and present value of compound interest, for Math Foundations 30)

Search terms: online, financial, calculator, tvm, time value of money, solve

Link	Description
Finance Calculator	For finance (ie: future value and present value of compound interest, for Math Foundations 30)
Financial web Calculator	HVKS.com has a similar webtool
TVM Calculator [Ultimate Financial Calculator]	Financial-Calculators.com also has a TVM (time value of money) calculator

(This list is representative. It is neither an exhaustive list nor a deliberately curated list.)

Regression Analysis: (ie: best-fit line or curve, for Math Foundations 30)

Search terms: regression, calculator, online, linear / quadratic / exponential / logarithmic / sinusoidal, web-based

Link	Description
Quadratic Regression	Desmos can do regression analysis, but some coding is required. Search for an existing work made available to the public.
Regression Calculator	WolframAlpha has a calculator widget that handles all regression types
GraphPad QuickCalcs: linear regression calculator	Graphpad has a linear regression webtool.
Linear Regression Calculator	Goodcalculators has linear and quadratic regression webtools.
Quadratic Regression Calculator

(This list is representative. It is neither an exhaustive list nor a deliberately curated list.)

A Note on the Use of Calculators in the Classroom

Teachers have mixed opinions on the use of calculators in the math classroom. Calculators can be a valuable tool allowing students to work more quickly and focus on bigger ideas, but can also reduce the need for efficient mental math skills.

Access to calculators does not negate the need for students to develop paper-and-pencil and mental methods. Rather, when used appropriately, calculators play a key role in developing students’ fluency with numbers and operations and estimation skills.

(NCTM (2020)

When teachers choose to integrate calculators into the classroom it is important that they are selective and strategic in their use. The NCTM has published a balanced position paper: Calculator Use in Elementary Grades – National Council of Teachers of Mathematics¹on the use of calculators in the classroom.

At the end of the day, teachers should consider deeply how the use of calculators will propel student learning and consult with their school administrators and division math contacts regarding expectations for calculator use in the classroom.

¹Calculator Use in Elementary Grades – National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved 6 July 2020, from https://www.nctm.org/Standards-and-Positions/Position-Statements/Calculator-Use-in-Elementary-Grades/