Barry Kissane describes a statistical modelling activity using a graphics calculator. Senior secondary students can explore Bureau of Meteorology data to determine whether the number of years with record breaking temperatures are more than expected--a sort of global warming null hypothesis.

In this study I examine the issue of how to support students' coordination of computer algebra systems (CAS) and paper-and-pencil in solving mathematics problems. Together with a classroom teacher I designed and conducted a collaborative teaching experiment in a ninth-grade algebra classroom to understand how to support students' coordination of…

Tossing a fair coin 1000 times can have an unexpected result. In the activities presented here, players keep track of the accumulated total for heads and tails after each toss, noting which player is in the lead or whether the players are tied. The winner is the player who was in the lead for the higher number of turns over the course of the game.…

An iPad® can be used to teach students to graph parabolas with ease and grasp vocabulary quickly. Parabolas come to life for students in this easily implemented activity described in this article. Teachers can use this tool in a fun and interactive way to not only address these graphing and vocabulary concepts but also introduce and explore…

Inclusion and differentiation--hallmarks of the current educational system--require a paradigm shift in the way that educators run their classrooms. This article enumerates the need for techno-kinesthetic, visually based activities and offers an example of a calculator-based programming activity that addresses that need. After discussing the use…

The study documents the extent to which high school teachers reflect on their need to revise and extend their mathematical and practicing knowledge. In this context, teachers worked on a set of tasks as a part of an inquiring community that promoted the use of different computational tools in problem solving approaches. Results indicated that the…

If students are to understand inferential statistics successfully, they must have a profound understanding of the nature of the sampling distribution. Specifically, they must comprehend the determination of the expected value and standard error of a sampling distribution as well as the meaning of the central limit theorem. Many students in a high…

The calculator is used to obtain values for use in graphing curves. Three worksheets are included. (MP)

An example is given of a class of problems whose solutions require the use of a scientific calculator in order to plot the graphs. (MP)

Described is a calculator race that is designed to require a fast touch with the calculator and also the ability to apply mathematical knowledge. Sample questions are given. (MP)

Repeatedly taking the square root with a calculator yields numbers with logarithmic-type properties, which can be used to define the logarithm functions. (MP)

Using the calculator to do addition and multiplication in base 2 is discussed, with the stress on how to change numbers from one base to another using the calculator. (MNS)

An activity is described for introducing some fundamental notions in inferential statistics to students in elementary high school statistics courses. (MP)

Shortcuts to use when performing operations with the calculator are given. Algorithms discussed include reciprocals, powers, parentheses, infinite series, and synthetic division. (MP)

Provided are four worksheets that are designed to capitalize on the use of calculators as teachers' partners in helping students to develop an intuitive feeling for percentage. Students also learn how to use the calculator's percent key to compute percentages. (MNS)