Policy | Why?

Graphics Calculators in Education Department Schools

In April 1996 following many years of researching the use of graphics calculators in schools and for examinations in other countries and states, the Curriculum Council produced a Policy on the use of graphics calculators by students in the Tertiary Entrance Examinations of Calculus, Applicable Mathematics, Discrete Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

Classroom teachers preparing their students for examinations keenly felt the impact of the policy. Many schools had been using the technology in mathematics classes from Years 8 to 12 prior to the implementation of the policy, using it as an instructional tool facilitating teaching and learning. Other teachers and students had never been exposed to the technology before.

The graphics calculator will be used in the TEE examinations for the subjects listed above, for the first time in 1998.

The intention of this web site is to address some of the concerns held by teachers through the provision of examples of assessment items being used by schools, a register of other web sites relating to graphics calculators, 'user-friendly' manuals on various aspects of programming for specific calculators, and other items which teachers may find useful.

This web site would not have been possible without the assistance of numerous teachers from both Education Department schools and private schools in Western Australia. The contribution of these teachers is gratefully acknowledged.

Thelma Perso
Senior Curriculum Officer
MATHEMATICS