Last week I gave my Honors Algebra 2 students their first BIG writing assignment for the year. Write me a letter expressing your view on a calculator's role in our math class. Are there any limitations as to when it should and shouldn't be allowed? Are students using their calculator without understanding the material? Do students reach for their calculator first before trying it themselves? These are some of the questions I asked them to think and write about. They were asked to write it in a letter format. They had the option of printing it, attaching it as an e-mail, or using google docs. I was surprised the number of students that still printed it out. Half of the students printed it and another three eighths attached it to an e-mail and a the rest used google doc. I was pleased to see them use a technology we (Joe, Jenny and myself) taught them. I also had some student come during their lunch for a mini technology class to learn how to use the google docs. It was interesting seeing them get excited about the implications of the technology. We shall see how the number differ on the next writing assignment.
