Deciding When to Use Calculators

The influence of technology, particularly the calculator, in the middle school classroom has become a compelling issue for both practicing and prospective teachers. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989) encourages the use of calculators in the middle grades, but teachers face a number of difficulties when they introduce calculators in their classrooms. In our work with both prospective and practicing teachers, we frequently hear the same concerns, particularly from middle school teachers, about incorporating calculators into the curriculum. These teachers ask, “When should I use calculators?” and “What should students know before I allow them to use calculators?” In particular, teachers want to be able to justify their answers to these questions to other teachers and parents who might be concerned about including calculator use in the middle school curriculum. The larger question that teachers often ask is “On what basis do I make the decision to use calculators with my students?”