Experiential learning and graphing calculators

Introduction

This wiki explores some of the links between experiential learning and graphing calculators.

Chantelle Bowers

Memorial University

Experiential learning

Experiential learning is learning by experience throughout a person’s everyday life (Neill, 2006). Experiencing what is being studied through a hands-on approach rather than learning about it through an indirect approach allows students to learn through experiential learning (Smith, 2001). Experiential learning can benefit teachers and students. It provides teachers with another view on how students think and learn. This enables teachers to further help students in learning and understanding the topic being studied (Reilly, 2009). There are four categories of experiential learning styles. They include activist, someone who would rather experience learning by doing; reflector, someone who reflects on what they have learned through observation; theorist, someone who chooses to understand concepts, reasons, and relationships; and pragmatist, someone who experiments with things to see if they work (Atherton, 2009).

Graphing calculators

Graphing calculators are programmable calculators with a large display screen that can be used for graphing, solving equations, and many other tasks that involve variables (“Graphing Calculators,” n.d.). Teachers often incorporate the use of graphing calculators into their mathematics classrooms to help increase the opportunities for their students to learn topics that involve graphing and computing (Garofalo, Drier, Harper, Timmerman, & Shockey, 2000). Allowing students the opportunity to learn concepts through experience with the use of the graphing calculator enhances students’ learning by allowing them to see a visual display of the results on the calculator screen. It also gives them the chance to explore concepts themselves through experience (Doerr & Zangor, 2000).