The graphing calculator is one of the most powerful tools the high school math student has aside from their own brain!! However, far too often students don't understand how to get full benefit from their calculator. It's used as a crutch to get them through class without having to think too hard. It's my opinion that in my class I use the calculator to it's fullest extend because when it is used vigorously and to it's full potential it leads to MORE thinking!
Students that can use their calculator to graph functions, observe data sets, plot information are more likely to think about the results and ask challenging thought provoking questions about what they see. Because of this, the graphing techniques section is designed to help students get full functionality from their calculator.
