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||             Electronic Proceedings of the Tenth Annual             ||
||  International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics  ||
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CONTRIBUTED PAPER: 10-C19

Calculators, Attitudes, and Success

Brian R. O'Callaghan
Department of Mathematics
Southeastern Louisiana University
SLU  582
500 Western Avenue
Hammond, LA 70402
Phone: (504) 549-2169
Fax: (504) 549-2099
E-mail: bocallaghan@selu.edu
                                        
ABSTRACT

     A study was conducted involving six graphing calculator sections and three traditional
sections of a college algebra course.  The calculator students showed significant improvements in
their overall attitude toward mathematics, their self-concept relative to mathematics, and their
enjoyment of mathematics.  They rated the calculators and teachers very highly, and they were
more successful than the traditional students.