A one year project was started in the school year 2003/04 to test the use of symbolic calculators (SC)--the TIVoyage 200--in six 10th grade classes of three grammar schools in Bavaria (Germany). The project was repeated in school year 2004/05. The evaluation of the project was intended to give answers to the following questions: how basic…

The ultimate goal of high school mathematics teachers is to create a meaningful learning environment that is conducive to teaching students the necessary concepts for academic achievement. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that many secondary educators still teach in a rote lecture style that focuses on the teacher providing information to passive,…

Discusses the results of research which examines the perceptions of teachers as they initially engage in instruction using graphing calculators. Data were collected from 261 math and science teachers of grades 6-12. Participant views changed significantly overall in favor of viewing the graphing calculator as a thinking tool to enhance conceptual…

In this report, we give a sociocultural account of the mediating functions handheld graphing calculators and social interaction play in students' mathematical understanding. We discuss the evolution of students' abilities to symbolize, model, and develop collective mathematical practices about polynomial inequalities in instrumented activity. In…

Discusses the rationale behind the technique of rationalizing the denominator in algebra. Argues that the importance of this technique is greatly exaggerated and is usually unnecessary. Examines an appropriate application of rationalizing the denominator. (ASK)

Explains how to code and decode messages using Hill ciphers which combine matrix multiplication and modular arithmetic. Discusses how a graphing calculator can facilitate the matrix and modular arithmetic used in the coding and decoding procedures. (ASK)

This paper details the motivation, background, and analysis for studying the effect that an Increasing Achievement on Algebra Assessment (IAAA) workshop for a group of Florida high school teachers had on student performance in state-wide testing. The main focus of the workshop was to provide participating teachers with both instruction and…

For many years, education researchers excited by the potential for digital technologies to transform mathematics teaching and learning have predicted that these technologies would become rapidly integrated into every level of education. However, recent international research shows that technology still plays a marginal role in mathematics…

Describes an activity presented in sports fishing magazines on developing a formula that predicts the weight in pounds of a game fish given its length in inches by using a TI-83 graphing calculator. Highlights the importance of using real-life problems and mathematical explorations. (ASK)

Graphing calculators convert an equation to a visual model allowing students to make connections between mathematical concepts. Teachers are very receptive to the calculators, according to the director of the Calculator and Computer Precalculus Project at Ohio State University. (MLF)

This article presents several activities (some involving graphing calculators) designed to guide students to discover several interesting properties of Fibonacci numbers. Then, we explore interesting connections between Fibonacci numbers and matrices; using this connection and induction we prove divisibility properties of Fibonacci numbers.

Presents an experiment to design a precalculus topic that would help prepare students for limits in differential calculus. Emphasizes the topic to enhance the interpretation of graphs and to be applicable in both technology-based and traditional precalculus courses. Uses graphing calculators to help students observe the results of their…

Explores ways in which various technologies can be integrated to teach the transformation of graphs in an interactive and dynamic way. Discusses how the use of graphic calculators, a spreadsheet, graph plotter, presentation package, and an interactive whiteboard can be combined to give students the opportunity to investigate, understand, and have…

Reviews the use of chi-square statistics for goodness of fit. Examines how to help students relate their earlier work with independence to the use of chi-square statistics. (KHR)

This article describes TI-73 calculator activities appropriate for middle school students. It was found that the use of the calculator allowed for higher-level thinking and a richer exploration of mathematical ideas by students. [Included with this article are "Dice Roll Worksheet" and "Transforming Tree Worksheet".] (Contains 9 figures.)