• UK government bans calculators from primary school maths tests
    123 replies, posted
[B]The government says calculators will be banned in maths tests for 11-year-olds in England from 2014. [/B]Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss said pupils should only use them once they were confident in basic mathematical skills The move follows a government review of calculator use in primary schools. Teaching unions responded that fluent use of calculators was essential, with the NUT's Christine Blower calling the ban "a retrograde step". Ms Truss said an over-reliance on calculators meant children missed the rigorous grounding in mental and written arithmetic they needed to progress. "[B]All young children should be confident with methods of addition, subtraction, times tables and division before they pick up the calculator to work out more complex sums,[/B]" she said. "By banning calculators in the maths test, we will reduce the dependency on them in the classroom for the most basic sums." She said maths "influences all spheres of our daily lives". "The irony is that while maths is all around us, [B]it seems to have become acceptable to be 'bad with numbers[/B]'," Ms Truss said. "The habit of simply reaching for the calculator to work things out only serves to worsen that problem." Prof Celia Hoyles, director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, said: "Children develop greater confidence and success in mathematics if they know a range of methods - for example mental and written calculation alongside quick recall of relevant number facts. "It is important that calculators are used appropriately, so children do not become dependent on them for arithmetic but at the same time are able to use them as a tool to support their own problem solving." But teaching unions argued banning calculator use in the tests would risk pupils' ability to use them to tackle more complex mathematical problems. Christine Blower, general secretary National Union of Teachers, said:"[B]It is entirely appropriate for children in primary school to learn to use a range of tools to solve maths problems [/B]and the skill of deciding which tool and method to use for a particular problem is an important one. "It may not be appropriate to use calculators for the whole of the maths test paper, but it is a retrograde step to ban them completely as[B] it will diminish the skills set for primary pupils and leave them floundering in secondary school[/B]". [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20259382[/URL]
Well that's just silly. I bet you by 2014 they will have changed their mind.
I found using the calculator a good aid to learn though back in primary school. Here's what you do: give them maths problems then TEACH them ways to get the result. Banning calculators is a little extreme. I'll just add that even though it's better to learn mentally I agree with you posters, it isn't a great choice just to ban calculators.
I thought there was a calculator and a non-calculator paper? Which seems like a much more sensible way of doing it (having basic mental maths skills is important, but learning to use calculators is too)
[QUOTE=Negrul1;38385275]I thought there was a calculator and a non-calculator paper? Which seems like a much more sensible way of doing it (having basic mental maths skills is important, but learning to use calculators is too)[/QUOTE] I don't think there is for the year 6 SATS (11 years old) as it would be seen as too much work to have 2 papers, they're already controversial enough as they are
Uuuh, most maths in real life with be done with calculators, kids kind of need to learn how to use them. Why does it seem that our education system has been going backwards lately? [editline]9th November 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=matt.ant;38385329]I don't think there is for the year 6 SATS (11 years old) as it would be seen as too much work to have 2 papers, they're already controversial enough as they are[/QUOTE] I'm almost sure they did that back when I did them.
I've never used a calculator in a math test, only physics. I find it better to not use a calculator, makes you think more.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;38385345]Uuuh, most maths in real life with be done with calculators, kids kind of need to learn how to use them. Why does it seem that our education system has been going backwards lately? [editline]9th November 2012[/editline] I'm almost sure they did that back when I did them.[/QUOTE] Because it's been dumbed down. Same for ICT as well, all facebook and small basics of MS Office (willing to see what's more of Office though). I'd see Britain not progressing. I hope it gets resolved.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;38385345]Uuuh, most maths in real life with be done with calculators, kids kind of need to learn how to use them. Why does it seem that our education system has been going backwards lately? [editline]9th November 2012[/editline] I'm almost sure they did that back when I did them.[/QUOTE] They did when I did them too.
I can't remember if I used a calculator in primary school maths tests.
That's good, to me at least. A lot of people don't know their multiplication tables and it's kind of shocking how people don't know basic math skills, because of their reliance on calculators.
They don't need calculators, mental math is better anyways.
[QUOTE=digigamer17;38385370]Because it's been dumbed down. Same for ICT as well, all facebook and small basics of MS Office (willing to see what's more of Office though). I'd see Britain not progressing. I hope it gets resolved.[/QUOTE] Facebook in IT classes?
[QUOTE=wallyroberto_2;38385385]They don't need calculators, mental math is better anyways.[/QUOTE] Only if you're working in retail.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;38385422]Facebook in IT classes?[/QUOTE] Went to a Primary school and saw teachers teaching kids how to use it. God dammit.
[QUOTE=matt.ant;38385329]I don't think there is for the year 6 SATS (11 years old) as it would be seen as too much work to have 2 papers, they're already controversial enough as they are[/QUOTE] As far as I know (like from memory 10/11 years ago) there is three (calculator, non calculator, mental). I don't [I]think[/I] its changed so it should still be the case. Of course do KS2 SATS even still exist? I thought they scrapped them. Edit: Via the magic of Google I found a set of KS2 SATS from 2010, all 3 were still there then.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;38385345]Uuuh, most maths in real life with be done with calculators, kids kind of need to learn how to use them. Why does it seem that our education system has been going backwards lately?[/QUOTE] On one hand I totally agree, since many things require machine aid, but on the other hand, it's important to know how to do maths in one's head without using a calculator, since what if you're in a situation that requires mathematics and you don't have the device with you? You do need to be able to many mathematics unaided, but in many situations there are some things that require a machine in order to accelerate the calculation process, such as dealing with division and complex decimals. Ideally, one needs to be able to work with and without calculators, and Negrul1's thoughts on having both a calculator and non-calculator test paper are totally legit; there should in fact be papers for unaided maths and device-aided maths, but the educational system is both low on funds (thanks you Tory cunts) and seemingly low on shit-giving.
[QUOTE=AK'z;38385434]Only if you're working in retail.[/QUOTE] They're 11, they don't need calculators at that level. Calculators can be introduced later when they actually need them.
Arithmetic is for machines.
[QUOTE=Jsm;38385447]As far as I know (like from memory 10/11 years ago) there is three (calculator, non calculator, mental). I don't [I]think[/I] its changed so it should still be the case. Of course do KS2 SATS even still exist? I thought they scrapped them. Edit: Via the magic of Google I found a set of KS2 SATS from 2010, all 3 were still there then.[/QUOTE] Ah I must have been wrong then, although I do remember one where the test was on a cassette tape and a woman read the questions out and you had 5 seconds to write the answer down, I always did bad on those
In the Netherlands this is normal, atleast on the primary schools I know.
If the Maths exams are written with non-calculator in mind and as long as Children are taught how to use calculators in class anyway then this isn't really a big problem. It's not like you really need a calculator to do maths until secondary school.
[QUOTE=matt.ant;38385496]Ah I must have been wrong then, although I do remember one where the test was on a cassette tape and a woman read the questions out and you had 5 seconds to write the answer down, I always did bad on those[/QUOTE] Clearly because of an over reliance on calculators! Actually there might be something to that..
Can't believe some responses here You should ALWAYS be able to do mental math for basic mathematics. Its essential in everyday life and essential in efficiently getting higher level math done. I don't even like math at all and knowing how to do long devision or multiplication without a calculator is super useful, and much quicker. Knowing the powers of multiplication by heart is also essential. 7, 14, 21, 28, etc... Of course I have no problem with calculators when you are at a grade level where everyone already knows the basics anyways. Especially using calcs for upper level math, that's pretty essential. But you'll never really be able to use math practically or understand it practically unless you know how to do it by yourself on a fundamental level and how it works.
I've always found doing some prolems in my head is faster than punching it in, more complex math is when a calculator is most needed.
[QUOTE=KorJax;38385562]Can't believe some responses here You should ALWAYS be able to do mental math for basic mathematics. Its essential in everyday life and essential in efficiently getting higher level math done. I don't even like math at all and knowing how to do long devision or multiplication without a calculator is super useful, and much quicker. Knowing the powers of multiplication by heart is also essential. 7, 14, 21, 28, etc... Of course I have no problem with calculators when you are at a grade level where everyone already knows the basics anyways. Especially using calcs for upper level math, that's pretty essential. But you'll never really be able to use math practically or understand it practically unless you know how to do it by yourself on a fundamental level and how it works.[/QUOTE] Working on the multiplication though... I know it sounds stupid but primary and secondary fucked up my education. Too many subjects, I rather focus on 2 or 3. Not like 8 every day.
[QUOTE=carcarcargo;38385345]Uuuh, most maths in real life with be done with calculators, kids kind of need to learn how to use them. Why does it seem that our education system has been going backwards lately?[/QUOTE] Someone think of the children, not getting their vital button-pushing education.
[QUOTE=Paramud;38385609]Someone think of the children, not getting their vital button-pushing education.[/QUOTE] Using a calculator is more man button pushing.
[QUOTE=Eudoxia;38385489]Arithmetic is for machines.[/QUOTE] You won't ever appreciate it because you did learn arithmetic manually already, but the atrocious lack of ability to use maths kids who grew up with a calculator in hand are just horrible. It might feel like you can "always just use the calculator", but in the end, the amount of mental scope you give up influences everything. I have never seen a kid I would genuinely call "smart" in any way who would be failing to do basic arithmetic by head. It's painful to admit, I did hate arithmetic as a kid as much as everyone else, and still do, but it simply is necessary if you want to understand upper stuff easily and well.
I wasn't allowed calculators in primary school either. The point is you're supposed to learn how to do basic mathematical operations by yourself in case you find yourself in a situation where you can't use a calculator. When you know that then feel free to use a calculator. [editline]9th November 2012[/editline] Can you imagine if they did the same to writing? Just skip handwriting and go straight to keyboard typing since well, who doesn't have a phone/computer these days?
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