Technology in secondary mathematics education: The role of calculators*

The significance of hand-held technologies for secondary school mathematics education is analysed. In many secondary school mathematics classrooms in many countries, including Thailand, student access to sophisticated ICT facilities is either very limited or non-existent, so that hand-held technologies of scientific calculators and graphics calculators are critical. These are described and exemplified, together with some opportunities for effective calculator use for mathematics learning and teaching. The significance of technology for the content of the mathematics curriculum, its evolution, its teaching and its assessment are outlined and some issues associated with the relationship between human values and ICT are considered in the light of graphics calculators.