Possible Calculator Addiction in Students While Performing Simple Calculus Operations in Solving Mathematics Problems

Abstract

Contemporary learning processes in schools and universities could not be imagined without the use of computers and calculators. Naturally, all is good if they are used in order to acquire new knowledge or solve problems from expert subjects in technical schools, which demand large quantity of simple mathematical operations. However, what if frequent use of calculators, either pocket or those installed on every home and school computer, becomes an addiction in students who begin using them while calculating simple mathematical operations, such as multiplying or adding and detracting one-digit numbers or numbers smaller than 20, when they should know this by heart? We arrived at this hypothesis during knowledge tests for students after regular demonstrations and elaborations of Mathematics subject matter. In order to confirm or deny this hypothesis, generic/developmental method, that is, survey was used as one of research techniques (Selimović, 2013., p. 104). The survey was conducted in March during academic 2016/2017 and the sample consisted of 59 students in 2nd grade of Grammar School Tešanj.