Pros And Cons Of Calculators

 People have strong opinions on the question of using calculators in the classroom. I used to be one of those who hated them except for the upper level maths but since I started teaching a class with students who have failed through their middle school career, I've adjusted my opinion.

There are both pros and cons to allowing calculators into the classroom.  I'm going to take time to look at both sides off the question today.


PROS

1.  As long as students are writing down the steps and using the calculators only to make sure their arithmetic is correct, they can focus on the process and concepts rather than getting stuck on the arithmetic.

2. Just about every mobile device have calculators built in as an app or they can be installed.  Few people have a dedicated calculator.  With this technology, its important for students to become used to using them.

3. Calculators allow students to be accurate in their calculations so their answers are correct but they still have to make sure they've entered the information correctly.

4. Calculators can be used to promote higher order thinking so students can problem solve more complex problems.

5.  Calculators can help students recognize and extend numeric, algebraic, and geometric patterns in math.

6.  The use of calculators can help students develop a positive view of mathematics.

7.  The use of calculators can be used to prepare high school students for their use in college.

CONS

1.  Using the calculator to do all the math without writing out the steps, eliminates the possibility of knowing the steps so they don't understand what is going on mathematically.

2.  Students develop the idea that the answer displayed by the calculator is always correct and they do not double check to make sure they entered it correctly.

3. Students do not develop their math skills nor do they keep their math skills.  Continual use of the calculator can make students too reliant on the calculator rather than keeping their skills up.

4. On the more advanced calculators, students can store notes and examples on the calculator which they can use on tests.  If they are not allowed additional notes, this could be construed as cheating.

5.  The cost of a physical calculator can range from $10 for a cheap one to over $100 each for the advanced graphing calculators.

6.  Students may think they do not need to use paper and pencil methods if they use a calculator but the physical representations can help them plan how they will solve problems.

7.  They end up with everything in decimal format rather than in fractions when the original problems are in fraction form.

Since most of the students I have in my 9th grade Algebra I class have been unsuccessful in previous math classes, the use of calculators are helping them learn to do the more complex math problems.  I require them to show all their work in terms of writing down the steps but the calculator helps them make sure the simple arithmetic work is correct.  I also allow my pre-calculus students to use calculators because they will be heading for college and need to know how to use these calculators for sequences, etc.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.