4 ways to use calculators beyond math class

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When you hear the word calculator, I bet your mind immediately goes to math class and solving problems that can’t be solved efficiently in your head or on paper. While calculators are traditionally used in math classrooms, their application can extend to so much more, which ups the value in the investment and helps broaden students’ application of the technology.

Graphing calculators offer dynamic exploration of math and science, and they include coding capabilities for students to learn the basics of programming and computer science.

Whether you teach science or financial literacy, there are so many ways to integrate graphing calculators into your lessons to help students learn how to use them beyond math class. They are valuable resources for exploring several science subjects, learning financial literacy, practicing coding, and working on robotics projects.

Explore science

Teachers can engage students through hands-on learning with lessons, activities, and apps that focus on essential science concepts. Earth science teachers, for example, can have students use their graphing calculators while they are learning about the ring of fire. Students plot actual earthquake and volcano data in order to map the boundaries of the Pacific plate. This lesson helps students understand the physical characteristics and spatial patterns on the Earth’s surface related to plate tectonics.

Additionally, biology teachers can have students use a Punnett square simulation on their graphing calculators to predict phenotypic and genotypic ratios. Students can predict parental genotypes and explain the probability while using their calculators in Biology class.

There are also several other science lesson plans that cover Life Science, Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Forensics available to teachers. A good example in a chemistry lab, for instance, has students connecting sensors to their calculators to collect and further analyze data. When learning about pH, students can use their calculator and a pH sensor to measure the pH level to understand the differences between acids and bases.

Learn financial literacy

Financial literacy classes are growing in middle and high schools, as more than half of the nation’s states now offer a financial literacy class in K-12. Whether your school has a class specifically for it or not, teaching financial literacy to middle and high school students is essential to their future. Teachers can access free lessons covering financial literacy utilizing graphing calculators.

Topics such as compound interest or continuous compounding might be difficult for students to understand right away. However, activities where students use their graphing calculators to learn how to deal with financial computations where the interest is compounded continuously can help them better understand and determine the number of compounding periods.

Practice coding

Coding is another skill more students are eager to learn, because it helps them better understand our technology-driven world and prepares them for future careers. Computer science teachers can access Python lessons and activities that use graphing calculators. This includes short and easy 10-minute activities introducing coding for beginners. Students can explore the basics of Python on their calculators with these easy-to-master lessons that include everything they need to get started and succeed. Teachers can also access more in-depth lessons introducing computer science and other topics aligned to CSTA computer science standards.

Work on robotics

If STEM teachers are looking to challenge students beyond learning the basics of coding, they can also use graphing calculators with lessons on control robotic vehicles. Students can explore concepts like motion commands, measurements, loops, and editing programs. These lessons encourage creativity and collaboration among students as they learn important problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Thinking beyond math

By using graphing calculators in various subjects, students learn math concepts across subject matters while maximizing the use of the technology.  Graphing calculators are valuable tools for science, financial literacy, and STEM subjects. Fortunately, there are many free resources for teachers who may not be familiar with graphing calculators so they can easily use these tools in their lessons.