A Study on How to Use Calculators in Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea

우리나라 초등학교 수학교육에 적용 가능한 계산기 활용 방안 연구

Calculators can be instructional instruments to be used specially in problem situations which need calculations through calculators. A calculator-calculations is one of the various calculation methods. As there are problem situations for each method, there are problem situations for a calculator-calculation, too. Basically, calculator-calculations can be admitted in any cases which need not paper-and-pencil calculations, estimations, mental calculations, and computer-calculations. In this paper, some basic knowledges on how to use calculators in elementary mathematics education are offered. Students learn concepts easier by doing complex and tedious calculations through calculators than through paper-and-pencil calculations. And, by doing complex and tedious calculations in problem solving, they can focus on understanding problems, planning, and looking back. Calculator can be used directly in phases of understanding and planning. Calculators can be used to practice guess and check strategies. Problems which contain calculations beyond students' paper-and-pencil calculations abilities. So, as a result, students' experiences on problem solving can be extended. Calculators experiences can affect students' persistences, confidences, enthusiasms, self-esteems positively.