Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effects of using graphing calculators to enhance college students' performance in precalculus

  • Published:
Educational Studies in Mathematics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study extended through three academic semesters and involved 710 subjects. It compared the performance of college students taught precalculus using a graphing calculator and a textbook written to be used with a graphing utility, to the performance of students using the traditional approach, a regular textbook, and a scientific calculator. On a comprehensive common final exam, students who were taught precalculus using the graphing calculator had significantly higher scores than those taught by traditional methods.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beckmann, C. E.: 1989, ‘Effects of computer graphics use on students understanding of calculus concepts’, Doctoral dissertation, Western Michigan University, 1990,Dissertation Abstracts International 51, 2300A.

  • Browning, C.A.: 1989a, ‘Characterizing levels of understanding of functions and their graphs’, Doctoral dissertation, The Ohio State University, 1988,Dissertation Abstracts International 49, 2957A.

  • Browning, C.A.: 1989b, ‘The Computer/Calculator Precalculus (C PC) Project and levels of graphical understanding’, in F. Demana, B. Waits, and J. Harvey (eds.),Proceedings of the Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, pp. 114–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browning, C. A.: 1990, ‘Levels of graphical understanding: Comparisons between high school and college precalculus students’, in F. Demana, B. Waits, and J. Harvey (eds.),Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, pp. 129–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collis, B.: 1987, ‘Sex differences in the association between secondary students' attitudes toward mathematics and toward computers’,Journal for Research in Mathematics Education 18, 394–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demana, F. and Waits, B.: 1990,Precalculus, Addison Wesley Publishing Company, New York, p. 718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunham, P. H.: 1991, ‘Mathematical confidence and performance in technology-enhanced precalculus: Gender-related differences’, Doctoral dissertation, The Ohio State University, 1990,Dissertation Abstracts International 51, 3353A.

  • Dunham, P. H.: 1992, ‘Teaching with graphing calculators: A survey of research on graphing technology’, in L. Lum (ed.),Proceedings of the Fourth Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, pp. 15–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrel, A. M.: 1990, ‘Teaching and learning behaviors in technology-oriented precalculus classroom’, Doctoral Dissertation, The Ohio State University, 1989,Dissertation Abstracts International 51, 100A.

  • Harvey, J. G. and Waits, B.: 1989, ‘Assessing Precalculus student achievement in a course requiring the use of graphing utilities: Background and preliminary results’,Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of PME-North America, October, 1989.

  • Leithold, L.: 1989,College Algebra and Trigonometry, Addison Wesley Publishing Co., New York, p. 613.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munger, G. F. and Loyd, B. H.: 1989, ‘Gender and attitudes toward computers and calculators: Their relationship to math performances’,Journal of Educational Computing Research 5(2), pp. 167–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, B.: 1991, ‘The effect of the use of graphing calculators on the learning of function concepts’, Paper presented at Fourth Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, Portland, OR.

  • Ruud, W. L. and Shell, T. L.: 1990,Prelude to Calculus, Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, California, p. 719.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steen, L. A.: 1987,Calculus for a New Century: A Pump Not a Filter, MAA Notes No. 8, The Mathematical Association of America, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitkanack, D.: 1990, ‘Attitudes of minority students toward graphing calculators’, Paper presented at Third Annual International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, Columbus, OH, November 9–11, 1990.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Akron, 44325-4002, Akron, OH, USA

    Antonio R. Quesada & Mary E. Maxwell

Authors
  1. Antonio R. Quesada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary E. Maxwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Posthumous

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Quesada, A.R., Maxwell, M.E. The effects of using graphing calculators to enhance college students' performance in precalculus. Educ Stud Math 27, 205–215 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01278922

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01278922

Keywords

Search

Navigation