Supplemental Technology (TI-85 Based) Exercises for
"Clustered" College Algebra
at
Texas Tech University

by Gary A. Harris
Department of Mathematics
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
g.harris@ttu.edu

Introduction
Students seeking certification at Texas Tech University to teach K-4 must complete a nine hour sequence of mathematics courses taught in the Department of Mathematics. The first course in this sequence is College Algebra taught in special sections reserved especially for these students, "Clustered" College Algebra. A paper describing this 9 hour mathematics sequence is to appear in PRIMUS. ["The Nine Hour Mathematics Sequence for the General Pre-service Elementary Teacher at Texas Tech University," Gary A. Harris & J. Dalton Tarwater] Here we include some of the supplemental exercises that are designed to introduce the students in "clustered" algebra to one of the modern technologies that is having such a tremendous impact of the curriculum and instruction in mathematics education at all levels, the "super graphing calculator".

That it is necessary for today's and tomorrow's teachers to be competent and comfortable with this technology is well established. We quote two sources. The first is from the NCTM CURRICULUM AND EVALUATION STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL MATHEMATICS.

• appropriate calculators should be available to all students (K-12) at all times;
• a computer should be available in every classroom for demonstration purposes;
• every student should have access to a computer for individual and group work;
• students should learn to use the computer as a tool for processing information and performing calculations to investigate and solve problems.

The second is from A CALL FOR CHANGE: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MATHEMATICAL PREPARATION OF TEACHERS OF MATHEMATICS, MAA NOTES, 1991.

The mathematical preparation of teachers must include experiences in which they use calculators and computers:

• as tools to represent mathematical ideas and construct different representations of mathematical concepts;
• to engender a broad array of mathematical modes of thinking through use of powerful computing tools (including function graphers, curve fitters, and symbolic manipulators);
• to develop and use alternate strategies for solving problems.

The following exercises are available in Adobe (PDF), PostScript (PS), and WordPerfect 6.0 (WPD) formats.

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