The use of the Texas Instruments 73 Calculator in an Elementary and Middle School Pre-service Teacher Education Course

Abstract

Faced with a group of students who had very little training in calculator or technology use in a department where technology had not been a primary focus in mathematics or teacher training, the author implemented the continual use of the Texas Instruments 73 calculator for all elementary and middle school pre-service teacher education courses. After some initial problems and disagreement, the students became extremely proficient in the use of the calculator not only for personal use but also for use in the classroom. Therefore, the results of this “action research” study indicated that these students who previously had not incorporated technology into teaching can and will do so in an elementary and middle school setting.