This report surveys many of the recent investigations on calculators and their use in mathematics education. The review notes that the widespread availability of hand-held calculators and their affordability has led to their consideration as a viable tool to aid in mathematics instruction. The studies reviewed suggest that many questions are still…

For many students the present remedial mathematics curriculum is a collection of loosely related, very difficult to understand topics, and many, in consequence, lack the motivation to persist in remedial math courses. Most alternative instructional methods used in these courses fail to convey a sense of the underlying purpose of mathematics and…

The calculator is used to investigate properties and characteristics of certain unary operations. These include how a number is related to the number resulting from a unary operation and the result of two unary operations. A discussion of the calculator algorithm to accomplish a series of unary operations is given. Record sheets to summarize…

The application of the programmable calculator to evaluating complicated formulas is illustrated by considering the formula for finding the area of any triangle when only the lengths of the three sides are known. Other advantages of the programmable calculator are discussed such as freeing the student to explore more challenging problems and…

This document provides abstracts of 20 research reports. Topics covered include: children's comprehension of simple story problems; field independence and group instruction; problem-solving competence and memory; spatial visualization and the use of manipulative materials; effects of games on mathematical skills; problem-solving ability and right…

These 18 bulletins list references on the uses of calculators pertinent to education. They were published at intervals to provide teachers and other interested persons with sources of information about calculator activities and research findings. The bulletins focus on several categories of references: (1) articles on instruction with hand-held…

These student worksheets include activities in counting, place value, estimation, the four operations with whole numbers, number patterns, volume, inequalities, decimal equivalents of fractions, and percents, all to be worked with a calculator. (MP)

Five different ways are outlined in which calculators can be used to develop a student's ability: (1) to solve problems which use real-world data; (2) for solving a greater number of standard word problems; (3) for using different approaches to solve problems; (4) for extending problem situations; and (5) for using the calculator in an…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) 1978 Yearbook contains fourteen articles covering a broad spectrum of computational topics. The first article considers the role of computational skills in the world of today and tomorrow. Several articles focus attention on how to help children master the basic facts. Algorithms for…

The intent of this paper is to suggest and illustrate how electronic hand-held calculators, especially non-programmable ones with limited data-storage capacity, can be used to advantage by students in one particular aspect of work with polynomial functions. The basic mathematical background upon which calculator application is built is summarized.…

This booklet is designed to aid teachers in the use of the mini-calculator in the classroom. Included in this booklet are activities and suggestions for the use of the calculator from the primary grades through the secondary mathematics courses. Each topic in the booklet includes background information for the teacher, suggested activities, games,…

Explorations involving the use of mini electronic calculators in connection with mathematics instruction were conducted with two fifth-grade classes, two second-grade classes, and one third-grade class. Explorations are being continued with third-grade classes (last year's second grade classes). Selected activities and related materials are…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of electric calculators offered an effective remedy for the lack of success and the corresponding negative attitude of the low achiever in mathematics. Two hundred and one low achievers were randomly scheduled into one of five control sections or into one of five experimental sections.…

Investigator-constructed questionnaires were distributed to fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade teachers and to elementary school principals in order to determine their attitudes toward the use of calculators in the mathematics program. One hundred eighty-three teachers and 64 principals responded. Results showed that the three most frequently cited…

The author argues that hand calculators are increasingly available to all students and the mathematics educators should immediately begin exploring methods of using calculators to improve mathematics instruction. (SD)