Spatial reasoning--the ability to visualise and play with shapes in one's mind--is essential in many fields, and crucial in any Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics [STEM] discipline. It is, for example, the ability that the engineer needs to build bridges; the chemist to see the three-dimensional structure of a molecule; the architect to…

The early eighties saw a period of rapid change in computing and teachers lost control of how they used computers in their classrooms. Software companies produced computer tools that looked so good that teachers forgot about writing their own classroom materials and happily purchased software--that offered much more than teachers needed--from…

This article describes the Australian Informatics Competition (AIC), a non-programming competition aimed at identifying students with potential in programming and algorithmic design. It is the first step in identifying students to represent Australia at the International Olympiad in Informatics. The main aim of the AIC is to increase awareness of…

Illustrates the ease with which programs occupying only a single command line of a graphics calculator can be constructed. (MKR)

Discusses the Texas Instruments calculator the TI-92 and how it can be an effective tool in the mathematics classroom. Provides examples of combining the algebra capabilities of the calculator and Cabri-Geometry II with graphing, tables of values, statistics, programming, and a simple text editor to enhance mathematics instruction. (DDR)