Home
> Academics >
Secondary Mathematics >
Use of Graphing Calculators
Use of Graphing Calculators
The effective integration and
appropriate use of graphing calculators is recommended by the
Howard County Public School System, Maryland State Department of
Education, and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
at all grade levels during the completion of various classwork,
homework, and assessment tasks. The Howard County Public School
System’s Secondary Mathematics Office recommends the appropriate
use of a graphing calculator in every course beginning with the
Algebra I/Data Analysis curriculum.
With the focus throughout the
secondary courses on the concepts of functions and data analysis
within the context of authentic problem solving, the graphing
calculator is an essential tool. It facilitates the exploration,
experimentation, research-based study, and advanced levels of
analysis as students use the methods of scientific inquiry to
make and defend decisions. Calculator use also facilitates the
students' active participation in the learning process. Students
are not observers; they are actively engaged. The learning needs
and interests of a diverse population of students are served in
myriad ways by this use.
The graphing calculator is required
for use on the Algebra/Data Analysis High School Assessment, the
Advanced Placement Statistics Exam, the Advanced Placement
Calculus Exams, and the SAT. A passing score on the Algebra/Data
Analysis High School Assessment is a graduation requirement for
all diploma-bound students.
Graphing calculators, computer
software tools, and other technologies assist in the collection,
recording, organization, and analysis of data. They also enhance
computational power and provide convenient, accurate, and
dynamic drawing, graphing, and computational tools. With such
devices, students can extend the depth, range, and quality of
their mathematical investigations and encounter mathematical
ideas in more realistic settings (NCTM, 2003).
|
