“Mitchelmore, M., & Cavanagh, M. (2000). Students' difficulties in operating a graphic calculator. Mathematics Educational Research Journal, 12(30), 254 – 268.”
In this paper, the authors looked at the different students faces when operation a graphic calculator. He summarised into a few area. (In this blog, I will focus the technology side of the difficulties.)
1. Scale. In particular when the x-axis and the y-axis were not scaled equally. And often students confuse the difference between scale and zoom function. In Geogebra, the scale are number on the axes. But in some graphic calculator, they are not as clear.
2. Accuracy and Approximation. Students assume that they can trace the graph and find the accurate number. But sometimes (in the example shown by the authors), the number they are looking might not be rational or nice (such as whole number).
3.Representation by pixels. Students understand the jagged representation of graph being the approximation. However, Students' focus on reading the graph rather then using other means to find the intersection could be a problem.
In summary, students would benefit from teaching guide their attention to the there area that was mention before.
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