Calculators

Calculators are considered an essential tool for math or primary grades and higher. Commercial, off-the-shelf hand held calculators are available with features such as big buttons, enlarged displays and speech capabilities. Look for these features help to address the needs of young users.

Operating System Calculators

For students who have difficulty accessing hand held calculators or who prefer to have a computerized calculator available onscreen for any software program they are using, computer operating systems offer some solutions.

Windows '95 and '98

Found under Programs/Accessories/Calculator
Includes both standard functions (4X4") as well as a scientific calculator (change type under View menu option). They are not resizable on the screen. Student uses the mouse (or alternate pointing system) to point to and click on the keys.

standard function calculator

scientific calculator

Macintosh

Includes 2 calculators within the operating system: a small (1 X2") onscreen calculator with basic functions and a scientific calculator for equations producing 2-3 dimensional graphs.

standard function calculator

scientific calculator

Online Calculators

Although calculators that are included in current computer operating systems may prove sufficient for many students, other students may need calculators with larger buttons, different key layouts, and/or speech output.

Edmark's Algebra Calculator
This free calculator is designed for solving algebra equations using decimals and fractions as well as basic calculations.

Martindale's Reference Desk: Calculators Online Center: Mathematics
Currently the Calculators On-Line Center contains over 18,640 Calculators to be used for thousands of activities from calculated farm prices, measuring dry ingredients and distances, to mathematics calculators.

Software Calculators

Talking Calculator (Premier Programming)
Every button and edit area talks on this free onscreen calculator. It is easy to use with large keys and contrasting colors. It has three display areas, and actually displays the equation so that you can easily see or hear your last process. This allows students who required to show their work, they can cut and paste it into a document. Download from the website.

Big:Calc (Don Johnston, Inc.)
This software program provides a talking onscreen calculator that provides options for larger keys in versatile layouts. How the key buttons look -- their font, size, color and background -- can be changed to meet the needs and preferences of the user. The two examples shown are two of six basic layouts and include a number line layout.

Auditory feedback associated with each key press and calculation helps a student to check his key selection. It also reinforces learning by increasing awareness. All keys, buttons, results and entire equations can be spoken aloud. Students can use it alone or with database or math programs. Big:Calc also includes the ability to scan key choices for single switch users. (Mac)