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Calculators in the Classroom
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Due to my various articles on Calculator use in the classrooms and on various standardized tests, I received an email from a reporter who writes for the Wall Street Journal. I guess my articles showed up in his searches. Here is an excerpt from his email:
"I’m a reporter at Dow Jones, covering technology. I saw a post you wrote discussing the use of calculators, particularly in regards to standardized test taking. I’m writing a story looking at some of these issues, particularly how the vast majority of students in the US use TI calculators, and the enthusiasts/critics that are involved with them. Would you be willing to speak with me, to give a math tutor’s perspective?
Best Regards,
Jerry A. DiColo"
Best Regards,
Jerry A. DiColo"
Given that I am but a humble Math Tutor/Retired Math Teacher I jumped at the chance to offer my opinion to this gentleman! I always am willing to offer my opinion .... just ask! So we set up a time for him to call me and ask me questions.
Now, of course, I have an agenda. I want the THEA and the ACCUPLACER and the GED and the GRE to allow the use of the TI graphing calculators which our Texas High School students have been using in all of their Math classes for over a decade now. The SAT and the ACT have gotten with the program, why won't the others? I feel that taking away a tool a student has used for 4 years of Math classes puts the student at a great disadvantage when they come in to take these various Math tests and therefore results in scores which are not truly reflective of the student's knowledge and ability to do Math. I wanted to make this point very clear to Mr. Dicolo in my interview.
Mr. Dicolo called and asked all the right questions and I happily shared my opinions on calculator use in the classroom and on various standardized tests. He seem surprised to learn that every high school Math classoom in Texas has a classroom set of the TI-graphing calculators and that these calculators are basically required by the state mandated TAKS test. But he is in New York, and probably doesn't have any idea about what is going on in Texas education. New York has it's own education/testing issues, I am sure.
As the interview was winding down, I asked him if he had seen the new graphing calculator which TI is pushing called the TI-Nspire. I mentioned that it was an amazing calculator ... like a serious hand-held computer ... it has word documents and spread sheets and SO MUCH STUFF! It is overwhelming. And then I said the words which he actually quoted me on ... see the article here .... Numbers Don't Add Up for a TI Calculator .
So much for MY agenda! Teach me to chat with a reporter after I think the interview is over. I actually have to laugh, though. I mean, he is a technology reporter, NOT an education reporter. Of course he cares most about the technology! And I honestly do own a TI-Nspire and rarely use it because it is so confusing to me AND the print on the screen is so fine that I have trouble reading the menus, etc. Seriously ... he could have gotten a lot more useful information from me about how I feel about this calculator if he had just asked directly.
BUT .... I have been interviewed, AND quoted, by the Wall Street Journal! And I owe it all to writing for the Examiner!
Onward and upward!
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