Re: [MATHEDCC] Graphing Calculators

Edward Laughbaum (elaughba@MATH.OHIO-STATE.EDU)
Tue, 08 Jun 1999 07:41:31 -0400

At 04:13 PM 6/7/99 -0700, you wrote:
>As a high school math teacher, I am wondering at what level graphing
>calculators should be implemented in the classroom. I use them extensively
>in Algebra 2 and am wondering if and how much they should be used in Algebra
>1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The calculator is a teaching tool, and as such, must be used in all math
courses - probably 7th grade and up. As always, the key is appropriate use
- not button pushing.

>I have a hard enough time being able to cover all the material in the
>curriculum as it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two comments: 1, maybe all the material in the algebra curriculum isn't the
proper stuff, and 2, the calculator allows for faster coverage of most
material - if that is what you are interested in.

Just picking on factoring - I know a local area high school is still
teaching factoring for 6 weeks in algebra using the traditional method.
This isn't the proper stuff to be doing. Using the linear factor-function
zero connection, factoring can be understood and done in a week in a
college algebra I course. But this assumes you are using a function
approach to teaching algebra.

Ed
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