Describes the development of computers and calculators, noting intitial resistance to and later acceptance of calculators in the classroom. Advocates teaching children to perform simple calculations and stresses estimation skills over speed and accuracy for doing long, complicated computations. Includes recommendations for classroom calculator use…

The purpose of this paper was to determine the effects of calculators in mathematics classes and to assess proposed curriculum revisions related to calculators. Twenty-six calculator studies and other selected sources were reviewed and annotated. Major conclusions of the study include: (1) calculator use has produced significant gains in…

Describes how a braillewriter can be used as a calculation tool for students with visual impairments who are learning mathematics. Provides strategies for teaching students to use the braillewriter in the addition and subtraction of whole numbers and numbers with decimals, multiplication, division, and fractions. (CR)

Steiner's Porism states that if you can draw a connected ring of circles in the annular region between two original circles, the ring will be successfully completed no matter where you start. This paper explores how the TI-92 graphing calculator can be used to demonstrate Steiner's Porism and illustrate the main points of its proof. Inversion in…

Discusses the Tiles and Sides problem from the December 2000 issue. Indicates that this problem is accessible to students at different grade levels. Presents samples of student responses and their teachers' analysis. (KHR)

The column for teachers of deaf students addresses issues in mathematics instruction including the impact of calculators, the need to ask students more "why" questions, the value of students writing about mathematics, and the effectiveness of pairing students for problem solving. (DB)

This Information Bulletin reviews nine books or kits providing useful activities for using calculators in grades 2-9, plus several articles providing constructive suggestions. The materials were selected on the basis of five criteria: ease of integration within the present curriculum, power to sustain interest, degree of attention to essential…

This paper introduces a teaching unit on using spiral symmetry in a geometry course for secondary education majors. The TI-92 graphing calculator is used to exploit the exponential function to analyze the geometric topic of similarity and to study the derivative of spirals. The paper provides some procedures and programs to generate spirals using…

A proposal for teaching how to graph functions is presented on the basis of the teaching theory of didactical situations implemented by the French author Guy Brousseau. The proposal is aimed at students in 12th grade in high school (USA) or in a freshman calculus course. The TI-92 graphic calculator was used as a teaching aid. (Author/ASK)

The article relates the British PrIME (Primary Initiatives in Mathematical Education) Project to children with special educational needs doing mathematics. The project's main aim is to improve the mathematical understanding and teaching skills of primary teachers. Activities using calculators are described. (DB)

Describes five types of activities that elementary school teachers can use to help students understand decimals. These activities use money calculations, base-10 blocks, meter sticks, calculators, and problem solving. Specific examples are provided. (MDM)

Describes three approaches teachers can use to help students understand multiplication and division: calculator explorations, problem solving, and discussion topics. Specific examples are provided for primary and upper grades. (MDM)

Describes three approaches teachers can use to help students understand the computation of numbers: calculator explorations, problem solving, and discussion topics. Specific examples are provided for primary and upper grades. (MDM)

Presents two elementary level activities designed to make math more meaningful with the help of technology. One activity involves learning about banking using computer spreadsheets and stock programs; the other uses computers and calculators to help students integrate mathematics into the study of world cultures. (SM)

This book, written for parents, presents short mathematics activities for use with young children. Most chapters contain an overview, educational objectives, needed materials, an estimate of initial time investment, introduction and preparation instructions, and activities. Activities are grouped as follows: kitchen math, calculators, measurement,…