Background/purpose: The Computational Thinking ability has become a fundamental skill in the 21st century and has been integrated into educational curricula in various countries. For this curricular integration to be effective, it is essential that teachers are prepared to incorporate the development of this competency into their practices. In…

This paper explores the correlation between mental calculation performance and the frequency of using written algorithms in mental calculation tasks. Mental calculation is a mathematical tool used in everyday life situations during and after our formal education. After presenting an overview of the professional literature on this topic, the paper…

As we move further into the digital age, the acquisition of digital literacy (DL) and computational thinking (CT) skills is emerging internationally as an essential goal for students in contemporary school curricula. As the world becomes more uncertain and volatile due to impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), international unrest, climate…

Considers traditional ways in which attempts have been made to help students become fluent in mathematics and offers a model for ways in which fluency can be achieved with a more economic use of students' time and effort than through traditional models of exercises based on repetition. (MKR)

A generalized method of synthetic division where the divisor polynomial may be of any degree equal to or larger than 1, and the dividend polynomial may be of equal or larger degree than the divisor polynomial and a generalization of the familiar remainder theorem, are presented. (Author/MK)

Two alternatives are given to the decomposition and equal addition subtraction algorithms. (MK)

The author feels teaching division of fractions is worthwhile because it will help students understand other algorithms. (MK)

The multiplication and division algorithms that are taught in German schools are presented. It is suggested that these algorithms may be better than standard algorithms in terms of development of useful concepts and processes. (MK)

Three short essays provide teaching suggestions for lessons on base two, order of operations, and ratios used to motivate a number of mathematical ideas. (MK)

Some techniques for developing the ability to multiply and divide by powers of ten with ease and understanding are presented. (Author/MK)

Attention is drawn to an ancient Greek method for finding the least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers. A link is established between this method and a well-known method of obtaining the highest common factor (HCF) numbers. This leads to consideration of some relationships between HCF and LCM. (Author/MK)

Results of this study, done with underachieving ninth graders, indicate that flow charting as a structure for basic skills instruction can be considered as effective as the traditional approach. (MK)

An activity is presented which provides a novel approach to number patterns, experience in following an unusual algorithmic procedure, and practice in systematic search techniques and basic facts. (MK)

This study was implemented to test the relative effectiveness of two subtraction procedures (decomposition and equal addends) with respect to accuracy in solving subtraction problems requiring regrouping. Results favor the decomposition approach. (MP)

This is the second unit of a 15-unit School Mathematics Study Group (SMSG) mathematics text for high school students. Topics presented in the first chapter (Informal Algorithms and Flow Charts) include: changing a flat tire; algorithms, flow charts, and computers; assignment and variables; input and output; using a variable as a counter; decisions…