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Non-Algorithmic Basic Skills

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Abstract

It is difficult to foresee the consequences the use of pocket calculators will have in elementary school. Many people believe that on leaving school children should only be able to use a calculator intelligently and do not realise that they are asking for a rather complex skill. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what insights and skills in elementary school mathematics are independent of the means and methods used to do routine computations, that is independent of the use of pocket calculators. These skills are called Non-Algorithmic Basic Skills. A test to measure these skills is presented and the results are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teacher Training Department, The University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Adolf Ekenstam

  2. Teacher Training Department, University of Gothenburg, Box 1010, 431 26, Mölndal, Sweden

    Karl Greger

Authors
  1. Adolf Ekenstam
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  2. Karl Greger
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Ekenstam, A., Greger, K. Non-Algorithmic Basic Skills. JMD 3, 21–46 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03338658

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03338658

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