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  • Calculators in primary grade? Why not!?
    Kokol-Voljč, Vlasta
    Computers have become an integral part of everyday life in the last few years. Almost every child has one - in form of microchips which are in every day appliances such as cell phones, and even in ... key-rings. How about using calculators for doing (teaching, learning) mathematics? Should we forbid the use of calculators at primary level or should we allow their use and even explicitly make them a teaching tool in mathematics classes? Is there a middleway? What are the benefits and advantages - and which are the weaknesses and disadvantages of the use of calculators in primary mathematics classes? If we allow calculators, then the question arises, how to convince the primary pupils (and their parents!) about the inevitability of learning the basics about numbers and operations, despite the fact that they could use calculators? Are there any criteria which make a calculator appropriate or non-appropriate for primary grades of mathematics teaching? How can we recognize a "good calculator" and how should we use them for teaching mathematics in primary level? These are the questions we will discuss in the presentation in addition to looking at appropriate classroom examples.
    Type of material - conference contribution ; adult, serious
    Publish date - 2004
    Language - english
    COBISS.SI-ID - 15575816