Why do Mathematics Teachers resist implementing Graphic Calculators
in their classes?

Dhavinder Tiwari

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the slow increase in use of the
technology of graphic calculators in teaching of high school mathematics. Mathematics
classrooms today and in the near past have been lacking the presence of any technology.
The only technology present in majority of the math classes since the early 1980's is a
basic operations calculator or a scientific calculator. The technology revolution has been
very slow in reaching our math classrooms.

Every time I have used the technology of graphic calculators in my math
classes, I have found that they transform my class. Graphic calculators changed the
dynamics of my class. Students get motivated in what they are doing. They construct the
knowledge themselves using discovery approach as graphic calculators allow this to
happen. Students find that they can learn more and solve complex problems at much
faster pace using this graphic technology.

Even though I have found graphic calculators to be a very useful tool for
students learning and student motivation, In my dealings with other math teachers, I have
discovered that their use has not spread by a significant amount into many of our math
classrooms.

This study will promote the use of graphic calculators in math classes in our
highschools. This will be achieved by the dialogue that is created during data collection.
This research study is a combination of nonexperimental, applied and descriptive study.
Participants in this study will be all math teachers from the district of Nanaimo. In the
beginning data sources will be the interview tapes of all math teachers teaching math
nine to twelve at Nanaimo District Secondary School. This will be followed by a survey
of all high school math teachers in the district of Nanaimo. The awareness and
understanding brought about the use of graphing calculators by this study will have
important implications on the use of technology in our math classes.