Attention to equity in the mathematics education field has been growing in recent years. We have evidence that many novice secondary mathematics teachers do not feel prepared to teach in regards to diverse populations. We need to know more about how secondary preservice mathematics teachers (PSMTs) conceptualize equitable environments. This study…

This paper reports on a mixed-methods study of 111 Advanced Placement calculus students' self-reports of their graphing calculator use, comfort, and rationale for trusting a solution produced with or without a graphing calculator when checking written work. It was found that there was no association between gender, teacher-reported mathematical…

This article summarizes research conducted on calculator block items from the 2007 fourth- and eighth-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress Main Mathematics. Calculator items from the assessment were categorized into two categories: problem-solving items and noncomputational mathematics concept items. A calculator has the potential to…

Reports on a survey investigating the current status of calculator use in classrooms and schools. Results indicate that the prevailing policy in the sample of high schools is to allow the use of calculators during classroom learning activities and tests. Policies regarding calculators with symbolic algebra capabilities were still not determined.…

This study investigated K-12 teachers' beliefs and reported teaching practices regarding calculator use in their mathematics instruction. A survey was administered to more than 800 elementary, middle and high school teachers in a large metropolitan area to address the following questions: (a) what are the beliefs and practices of mathematics…

Illustrations are provided which show how some algebraic manipulations done prior to doing calculations can eliminate unnecessary storage of data, reduce the total number of needed steps, and avoid overflow. (MN)

Uses data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study to determine trends in calculator use among 13-year-olds in Japan, the United States, and Portugal. Indicates relatively high levels of calculator use for U.S. and Portugal, and no calculator use for Japan. Reports a statistically significant negative relationship between…

The development, use, and analysis of returns of a twelve-question survey of the present feelings of parents and elementary teachrs toward calculator usage in schools is discussed. The questionnaire items are included. (MN)

Described is an activity demonstrating how a scientific calculator can be used in a mathematics classroom to introduce new content while studying a conventional topic. Examples of reading and writing large numbers, and reading hidden results are provided. (YP)

Comparing calendar years and planetary years serves as the basis of a calculator problem. (MP)

Two traditional presentations introducing the calculus of exponential functions are first presented. Then the suggested direct presentation using calculators is described. (MNS)

Described is the calculator's place in the classroom and its potential for reshaping our computationally oriented curriculum. Activities are suggested for ways calculators can effectively be used to develop four types of mathematical thought. (Author/DS)

The article seeks to illustrate that calculators and problem solving complement each other perfectly. (MK)

A discussion is given of calculators in the classroom. Opinions and recommendations of various groups are incorporated. (MK)

Archimedes' method for estimating the value of pi is developed and compared with the Gregory-Machin infinite series method. Programs for the TI-81 calculator for finding the upper and lower bounds using the classical method and estimating pi using infinite series are provided.(Author/MKR)