In the past, students were pulling out their calculators to answer math questions. Yet, in today’s society with the increase of technology, this seems to be a thing of the past especially with teacher Sara Van Der Werf. This unique teacher begins the class with stating, “Pull out your smartphones, please.” The brilliant part of this is that most students have a smartphone but not every student can afford a pricey graphing calculator but there is now a free app for that on smartphones.
Smartphones in school? 5 years ago this was unheard of, but now it’s standard in Minneapolis.
Smartphones provide an affordable alternative to expensive graphing calculator technology.
This online calculator allows students to plug in equations and watch the line graphs being formed. The app can even be run without a need to use wi-fi at home, another measure just in case there are students who do not have that ability to access wi-fi at home. So far, it seems that a major drawback is students can’t use the app or online calculator when they take their ACT or MCA tests. However, they are working on that too.
The expensive tools necessary for higher-level math work can put some students at a disadvantage, she said. The graphing calculator used in Van Der Werf’s classes is the TI-84, manufactured by Texas Instruments. Depending on the model, they can cost more than $100.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- Teachers at a Minnesota school are trading calculators for a smartphone graphing calculator app.
- The students can easily do this without having to buy a calculator.
- The calculator on the app is the same calculator model used in school, and saves students approximately $100.
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