Research: Students Excel in Math Using Graphing Calculators

According to Texas Instruments, independent research studies have showed how graphing calculators help students to better understand math concepts and also get higher math test scores.

Per the results of the studies, with regards to middle and high school math, students' achievement levels were improved as well as their overall math skills when graphing calculators were used in classroom curriculum. The studies also showed that there was a marked improvement in students' test scores when they used graphing calculators at home in addition to using them in the classroom environment.

According to a math a physics educator from Fayetteville, Arkansas, David A. Young, students are more able to understand math concepts and topics when they use a graphing calculator and it also enables students to learn faster.

Some of the findings from the studies that were conducted over the past four years are as follows:

- Students have better attitudes regarding math when they use graphing calculators as compared to students who don't use graphing calculators.

- Students performed significantly better in all five math skills when they used graphing calculators during math instructions but not during math assessments.

- Students using graphing calculators during classroom instruction performed as well or better regarding problem solving and operational math skills as well as conceptual math problems when they used graphing calculators during classroom instruction.

- Students had a marked improvement in math achievement when teachers incorporated graphing calculators into their teaching curriculums more often than not incorporating graphing calculators.

There have been four studies that were conducted regarding the use of graphing calculators which include:

1. Decision Analyst, Inc.'s study regarding handheld technology leadership

2. A study by Aimee Ellington, from November 2003, entitled "A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Calculators on Students' Achievement and Attitude Levels in Precollege Mathematics Classes"