calculator

[kobi]

have there been any negative side effects caused by the widespread use of calculators on mental development or any thing like that.

[jake-the-peg]

It's a bit of a common reactionary rant that people were cleverer when they didn't rely on calculators but I don't think it's true.

There was a study (Kendal and Stacey 1999) where two classes were taught calculus - 1 group with symbolic calculators and the other with paper and pen and the scores were essentially the same.

In some ways it's probably better for people learning maths that they can concentrate on mathematics without getting constantly bogged down with tedious arithmetic.

At a more prosaic level, if I were running a shop I'd rather have people scan items into tills than calculate the totals because there's less chance of errors and I could better manage stock control.

[oldfashioned]

Answer is yes. Kids today can't add up in head. I went to B and Q the other day with pensioners discount card. Young girl at the till asked a coleage what 10% of �14.64 was. Unbelievable.

[Bellringer]

Absolutely!
I was never very good at maths and of late have used calculators.But, I am still better than my Grandchildren when it comes to mental arithmetic.

[chimpanzee]

Bellringer were you a nursery school teacher?

Back to the question, yeah technology is making core subject harder these days, but my 5 y/o daughter is still taught the old way at school, so using the mobile to add things up isn't going to cause her brain to rot, cos she can do it anyway.

[johnnyedge]

My wife teaches children who are struggling with Maths and English at ages 7 and 8, I have asked her what methods they use when a calculator is not used, so she set about showing me, my God what wierd ways they teach today. Not wishing to go back to the dark ages but basic maths should be just that, so what if parrot fasion methods are out dated, THEY WORKED!.
The problem with a calculator is if you don't know what the numbers represent that you are putting in whats the point in getting the answer faster?
Lots of children dread maths classes due to a feeling of failure, if the basics are not grasped early what chance have they got when they have to move on to satisfy the demands of the national curriculum?

[Hugh Spencer]

As a long retired teacher of 7 to 11 year olds, I have always said that if the children in my classes had calculators, one day of every week they would have to work without them.

[Bellringer]

Hi Chimp. No I was too thick for that.

[Androcles]

As the irate father asked: "Look, Son, If I have five calculators and take away three calculators, how many do I have left?"

[jake-the-peg]

See what I mean about it being a common reactionary rant?

Everybody starts off with the "kids these days can't add up" speech yet nobody can answer your question and point to reseach indicating issues with mental development linked to calculators.

In fact the Flynn effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect
has shown a rise in average IQ of about 3 percent per decade.

As the use of calculators became standard practice in the Early 80's and this did not slow the Flynn effect it would suggest that it is absolutly untrue.

It seems kids were dumber in my day!

[kobi]

thanks for all your views guys.as annoying as it is, i think i have to agree with jake- the -peg on this one. only because no one can actually come up with any real facts to support their opinions. which is so far all we have. When i asked the question it seemed like common sense that there would be some kind of negative effect. i am still holding out though. i am often sceptical about quick easy fixes. they usually come at the expense of something else no matter how minor that thing may be, whether its social or physical and the knock on effects that can have.

[snug]

If jake is right, then how come if the till goes haywire in a shop the person behind the counter is at a loss.
In my experience they seem unable to even add up simple sums and when it comes to working out change they are totally bewildered. It is either the effect of caculators in schools or shops only employ thick staff. (which I doubt)

[Ldel1969]

Well things really have been going downhill since the invention of the ababacus