The invention of smartphones has replaced the usage of certain gadgets. Why would anyone carry multiple divides when they get the functionality of all the devices in just one? Smartphones have built-in calculators in them. This helps people to do any kind of calculation in seconds. While this is considered to be an added advantage for many, the use of calculators by students has certain disadvantages. It is very true, especially for those who like to do the minutest calculations on their calculators. In this post, we have come up with 3 reasons why you need to reduce the use of calculators.
- Hampers skill development
With the ease of using calculators, young kids do not like to use their brains in calculating basic elementary sums. They prefer using their fingers on the keypad rather than using their brain to solve the sum. This takes away the necessity for a student to learn the basics. This can eventually cause a slowdown in learning and make mathematics a cumbersome subject.
- Causes embarrassment
There are youngsters who use calculators for the simplest of calculations. For instance, you will find kids who use calculators to find out the cost of 8 pens costing 25 bucks each. Having to reach into your pocket to make the calculation requires much more time than to do the calculation in your mind. Doing such simple calculations with your calculator can make you a laughing stock in front of others. On the other hand, learning to calculate numbers in your mind let others have a good impression about you.
- Reduces self-confidence
Excessive use of calculators can become the reason for the low level of confidence for an individual. Imagine yourself in a job interview. You are answering all the questions with confidence and then suddenly the interviewer throws a question at you about numbers. You might take a while before being able to answer that question or maybe you won’t be able to answer it at all. This can be a huge disappointment for the interviewer and you. You might not get the job just because of your weakness with numbers. To avoid such a situation at any time in the future, it is very important that you reduce the use of calculators.
When is it really OK to use calculators?
Calculators should be used in schools only when the students meet certain criteria. For example, a fifth grader using a calculator to find 7 x 9 is not proper. But, it is okay if a tenth grader uses it to calculate 6.425 x 3.25 in a multi-step problem. Another case where using calculators is not frowned upon is when you are working with equations. Students who prepare for competitive exams like GATE use GATE calculator for practising.
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