LearningArithmeticinthe21stCenturyBrionnaLopez

LearningArithmeticinthe21stCenturyBrionnaLopez

To-Do

Develop principled arguments (backed up by: research, empirical findings, your personal experience, hypotheses about resulting cognitive developments, and the topics discussed in class) which of the four positions YOU will favor!

Principled argument which of the four positions YOU will favor!

            Due to the varying methods of incorporating learning styles within schools, it is recommended that students learn basic math by hand and after students have mastered this technique they will be allowed to use hand-held calculators. This method of making students learn long-hand math and eventually allowing them to use hand-held calculators will formulate a balance between not losing skills and learning how to use current technology (Willis 2010).  As students get more advanced in their math skills, calculators can be more beneficial in comparison to performing long-hand math based upon the reasoning that more material can be covered in classrooms with the use of calculators. This reasoning is based upon the observation that by “freeing students from time-consuming calculations, more time can be devoted to learning more mathematics,” (Willis 2010). In addition to this idea, it is also necessary to enforce an academic environment that promotes long-hand mathematics early on because “mathematics is a field of study that builds on previously established facts.” So by students learning mathematics without a calculator they learn how to train the mind, learn logical reasoning, and also enhances mental mathematics (Using calculator in, 1998). To add to this method, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) suggests that each child should learn to solve problems by using calculators as well as mental and written calculations (Quick Takes, 1998).  Hence, by enforcing a curriculum that first focuses on written and mental math and then allowing students to use calculators, they will better understand the fundamentals of math as well as delve deeper into more advanced mathematics.

Quick Takes,. (1998, March). Quick takes: calculators in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.sedl.org/scimath/quicktakes/qt9803.html

Using Calculator in elementary math teaching. (1998, May). Retrieved from http://www.homeschoolmath.net/teaching/calculator-use-math-teaching.php

Willis, B. (2010). Calculators in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.worsleyschool.net/info/calculators/intheclassroom.html