Can our children do the basic calculation on the future?
By clorissa123
@clorissa123 (4926)
United States
March 19, 2009 8:54pm CST
With our advanced technology nowadays, we almost limited the manual work from human beings. In school too. For instance, in math class, most of our children rely on calculators to do the calculating. They almost don't need to use their brain to do the plus, minus, multiplication, division type of arithmetic. Somehow, they need to learn to do the mental calculation themselves.
So, with the advantage of advanced technology, will our children can do the mathematics themselves?
9 responses
@ishi23 (71)
• United States
21 Mar 09
I don't think our children can do basic maths in their mind. I sometimes doubt if they can add 2+2 also. This trend is all because of the introduction of calculator at a very early age. When I was growing up , we were not allowed to touch calculator and our parents / teachers insisted us to do calculations in our mind or on paper but never calculator. Calculator use should be very limited with growing children, as this will hamper the brain development
@Fightinghard (37)
• China
20 Mar 09
You can persuade your child to kick the habit. It's better to teach your child to use it properly.
@sophie_dfuss (2365)
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
Thats possible 
When I was younger there is already finger math and I saw a kid who can multiply 3-4 digits to another 3 digits, its really amazing 
When I was younger there is already finger math and I saw a kid who can multiply 3-4 digits to another 3 digits, its really amazing 
@Cillysophie (327)
• United States
20 Mar 09
We only start using calculators in our High School years. If you were in middle school and you were allowed to use a calculator, you must have been in an advanced class. But I may only be speaking for my school District Policies. There are also certain calculators you have to use during specific test.
@taki_takaishi (1279)
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
If you teach your child basic math without calculator and explain what is the use of the calculator and how many seconds it can waste when doing basic math, then I guess they can still do basic math without the calculator.
@gurlychie (17)
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
I'ts really not that easy to perceive but i think still they could do the basic calculation on the future if parents and their teachers guide them and teach them how. Of course it's up to the parents on how they mold their children and how their children cope with it... If children are really determined to do such basic calculations without using any gadgets of course they can. What matter is the courage and confidence of the children to learn such basic calculations. Good luck.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Thank goodness my kids' teachers are all still making them show their work in Math so they really do learn the concepts and applications. I have often wondered myself what will happen in the future if kids are not taught how to do things with simple paper and pencils.
