EDUC4105

Graphics calculators are a great mathematical tool for students to use when graphing equations or a table of values. It would be great for students to have access to these calculators if they were curious about what a certain equation looked like on the cartesian plane. Also instead of drawing a diagram to get an understanding of a problem, students using the graphics calculators could type in the equation to be drawn and instantly have a correct visual aid. Drawing a line of best fit for a set of data can be a difficult skill, but using the graphics calculators last week it was a lot quicker and easier using this technology.
The only problem I can see with students having access to these calculators is that the letters of the alphabet are on the keys, so students can write messages on the screen to one another and become easily distracted. Maybe I shouldn’t judge all students by my own standard of behaviour.

I have a feeling that any classroom lesson using graphics calculators needs to be planned so that student are always doing something and there is no time for students to become distracted.