Use of Calculator in Mathematics Class Assignment 7: Capstone Research Presentation Melissa Crosswhite University of Arlington Abstract

Use of Calculator
in Mathematics
Class
Assignment 7:Capstone Research
Presentation
Melissa Crosswhite
University of Texas of Arlington

Abstract
The research aims to study the effect of
calculators by students in a mathematics
class. The study has been conducted using a
statistical approach on the basis of a class
of middle school students in Texas. It has been
found that use of calculators improves test
scores and reduces time in taking the
test.

Introduction
 Calculators save a lot of time spent in computing tedious
calculations.
 Enables teachers and students to focus on the more
conceptual side and real world implication of mathematics
rather than the monotonous techniques of number
crunching.
 Problem statement :Due to the use of calculators , students
and teachers can expend more time increasing mathematical
perception, reasoning, sense of numbers and its applicability.
 This study helps understand the need of the theoretical basis
and process of calculators which makes it easy to have a
better understanding of the subject.

Background
 There are a lot of literature available on the negatives and
positives of using calculators in mathematics class.
 The works by Dye (1981), Lloyd (1991) and Lawrance &
Dorans (1994), investigated and revealed that use of
calculator enhanced computational performance. It is
discussed how graphing calculators are linked with higher
scores despite its little influence on the speed with which
students accomplished the test.
 Hembree and Dessart (1986) analysed and compared the
calculative and problem solving capabilities of groups who
have used calculators and those who have not used
calculators.They found that using calculators resulted in
superior results.
 Milou (1999) discusses how use of calculators by middle
school students had reduced their aversion towards complex
multiplications and divisions.
 Pearson (2010) argues that if calculators are permitted in a
test, then examinees should be made to be tested on their
skills of imputing arithmetic and geometric problems in the
calculator for answering the items properly.
 Wu et al., (2012) discusses in general the patterns of
research in use of mobile computing devices in education.
 Chen and Lai(2016) performed an analysis to reveal the role
of the calculator in the development of attitude of students
towards mathematics.