The one thing that strikes me in chapter 7 is that calculators can improve attitudes and motivation. According to the authors, research results reveal that students who frequently use calculators have better attitudes towards the subject of Mathematics (Ellington, 2003).
Recalling the experience I had doing Mathematics in school, I realised that we never had that opportunity to use calculators and much time was spent on getting the sum correct, so much so that we are left with very little time to solve the problems.
Coming back again to kindergarteners, I believe they need to grasp the foundation of concepts first before allowing them to use the calculators for checking and exploration. This will empower them and encourage them to want to learn Mathematics.
Technology has made practice problem-solving so interesting as they have made it fun and most of the time one is placed in the position of having an opponent thus posing one with a challenge to win. In that process, one is learning new strategies and thinking of ways to outwit its opponent. It is non-threatening and fun, which is what children love.
I enjoyed playing the ‘Slam Ball’ in the Illuminations and plan to outwit my opponent for ‘Dig it’ in my next game @ Illuminations - Calculation Nation http://calculationnation.nctm.org/Games/Default.aspx
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