Calculator or No Calculator? When Students Should Use One

As students start learning more advanced math topics, they are given calculators to use for time-consuming calculations. Calculators are very useful tools for students; however, they can also take away from the development of mental math and problem solving skills. It is important to know when calculators can improve efficiency and when it is best to do without one.

When to Use a Calculator

Calculators are most helpful on questions containing long calculations that aren’t the main focus of the problem. Equations such as those with large numbers, long decimals, and square roots take a long time to solve, so calculators can be useful in this situation. Instead of having to calculate those numbers by hand, students should instead write out the steps and focus on the mathematical concept of solving equations. This way, students can understand the main idea of how to solve the problem and use their calculator as a tool to do the arithmetic. 

When under time limits, calculators can also help students do more complex calculations more efficiently. They can reduce the number of small computational mistakes when dealing with more difficult numbers, and if a student gets an answer to an equation, they can use their calculators to quickly check their work by plugging it back in. Calculators can help prevent and catch mistakes, allowing them to understand where they went wrong easier.

When to Not Use a Calculator

On the other hand, students should not use calculators for every calculation they come across. For example, basic multiplication, fractions, and subtraction problems can be done through mental math or by hand, and may even be slower when putting it all in a calculator. If students rely on their calculators for every problem, they can become too dependent on them, inhibiting the development of mental math, estimation, and number sense. Having these skills are important for students to be able to recognize if answers are reasonable and likely to be correct. 

Using a calculator can also take away from the conceptual understanding of a problem. If students just take formulas and plug in the numbers in a calculator, they aren’t going through the motions of understanding the concepts and processes. Calculators may provide the correct answer, but they don’t explain how they got to their answer. Thus, when trying to understand a concept, it may be more beneficial for a student to not use a calculator.

Finding the Correct Balance

When using a calculator, it is important for the student to already have a foundational understanding of how to solve the calculation they are putting in. As long as the student knows how to solve those calculations, using the calculator as a tool for efficiency will still support their understanding of the topics they are learning.

Students should aim to find a good balance between using a calculator and not using one. Students should learn which method is most efficient for different problems. Learning to use the calculator as a tool can help students become more efficient and accurate in math.

Call Paige's Tutoring today to learn more about your student's learning style.