It’s tempting to ask why they keep changing calculators. Just as you get used to one, there’s another one on the market, and students and teachers must get used to that one. But looking back at the first commercially available scientific calculator from HP in 1972, you can see why it’s worth keeping up to date!
As technology changes, so does classroom practice – log tables or slide rules were consigned to history many years ago, and statistical tables may also become a thing of the past. What we do in the classroom is different now; calculators and graph drawing software such as Geogebra and Desmos are readily available. The AMSP are committed to providing professional development for teachers about technology.
Check out our On Demand Professional Development materials – at this time of year, you may be able to find the time to learn something new. In the West Midlands, we also offer a short online PD session on Effective use of calculators at GCSE on 10 July.
We are also exploring the possibility of face-to-face student sessions to use graphical calculators effectively. We are looking for schools who would like to host a half-day workshop for their students and those for neighbouring schools both for A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Please get in touch [email protected] if you are interested.
by Rose Jewell