The Effect of Calculator Usage on the Learning of Basic Skills
It is a well-known fact that students in the United States are not gaining the mathematical and problem-solving skills they need to be successful in today's workforce. In an effort to help close this "skills gap," many educators have turned to technology, specifically calculators, as a way to improve student learning. However, there is much debate surrounding the use of calculators in the classroom, with some research suggesting that calculator usage can actually impede student learning. For example, one study found that fourth and fifth-grade students who used calculators on math tests scored lower than those who did not use calculators. The researchers suggest that this may be due to the fact that students rely too heavily on the calculator and do not focus on developing their own problem-solving skills. Another study found that middle school students who used calculators for all four years of math instruction scored lower on standardized tests than those who di...