Calculators in years 7 & 8 (updated)

Calculators in years 7 & 8 (updated)

From MathsTalk by AMSI Schools by AMSI Schools

March 16, 2026 · 26 min · Season 2026 · Episode 54

About this episode

Leanne McMahon and Nadia Abdelal discuss the role of calculators in Years 7-8 mathematics education.

In this episode of MathsTalk, Leanne McMahon is joined by mathematics educator Nadia Abdelal to explore the role of calculators in Years 7–8. This re-released episode tackles a question many schools still debate: when do calculators support learning, and when do they risk getting in the way? Leanne and Nadia discuss how calculators can reduce cognitive load, improve access to new concepts, and support students who are still building number sense. They also highlight the importance of intervention, estimation, and equity — reminding us that calculators can help students engage in richer mathematical thinking, but should sit alongside strong teaching of foundational skills. Relevant links MathsTalk podcast: https://calculate.org.au/mathstalk-podcast/ Texas Instruments Australia: https://education.ti.com/en-au/teachers?category=professional-development AMSI maths careers: https://careers.amsi.org.au/ AMSI Industry Day resources: https://amsi.org.au/amsi-industry-day-for-teachers/

People in this episode

Host: Leanne McMahon

Guest: Nadia Abdelal

Topics covered

  • calculators
  • mathematics education
  • cognitive load
  • number sense
  • equity in education

Keywords

  • calculators
  • Years 7-8
  • cognitive load
  • number sense
  • mathematical thinking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: MathsTalk, Texas Instruments Australia, AMSI, AMSI Industry Day

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