What an exciting time for all of us involved in the mathematics department on campus! A number of changes on the horizon promise to further strengthen our 7-12 program, and I look forward to navigating through this new terrain with students and parents.

Our world is changing. Technology and its mathematical underpinnings present new opportunities daily. Our lives (both at home and in the workplace) have begun to shift in dynamic ways as we witness the powerful impact of effective technology use.

The world of mathematics is also changing. We must cast aside the common ? yet terribly inaccurate ? notion of mathematics as the unchanging discipline.

Breakthroughs on age-old problems occur every year, and their results often revolutionize existing fields of both math and science. New fields (fractals, chaos theory, and game theory, to name a few) continue to push the subject to new heights and (quite literally) new dimensions.

As the world and the mathematics within it change, the demands upon the classroom ? and the opportunities within it ? shift as well. Texas Instruments makes the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition calculator and we will incorporate it with the TI-Navigator, and our newly adopted textbooks for Algebra 1 through precalculus (designed to support and maximize the use of graphing calculator technology). Together these will help us meet these demands and take full advantage of these opportunities.

The TI-84, a handheld graphing utility, actually does much more than its name suggests. With useful applications in every course in our high school curriculum, the TI-84 enables students to actively participate in numerous investigations that make mathematics more enjoyable, easier to understand, and more applicable to the world outside the classroom walls.

In selecting the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, I believe the investment made now will last through high school graduation, even satisfying the demands of most colleges and universities.

The TI-Navigator further amplifies the effectiveness of the graphing calculators by linking them all together in a wireless network with the teacher?s computer. One of the simplest, yet most practical benefits of this technology lies in an instructor?s newfound ability to instantly gauge the level of understanding of every individual student in the classroom.

In looking to the future we can expect that students? strengthened mathematical reasoning will serve them well in any field of work or study, as will their increased technological aptitude. What exciting times indeed!

The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition graphing calculator can be purchased online or at local stores like Office Depot and Target from $120-130.

For more information, go to The Feather archives and read the May 11, 2006, article, “Campus technology enhances learning” by Ryan Martens. Also go visit Texas Instruments (TI) on the web at education.ti.com for more information.