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Disclaimer: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

My younger son (11) has been wanting to learn how to use a scientific calculator ever since he found my husbands very old, big and clunky, one from his college days. Not having a math head myself (or a science one really) I was rather uncertain how to help him follow this rabbit trail. But then we were given the opportunity via, Triad Math, Inc., to learn how to use the TI-30Xa scientific calculator using an online course and a softcover book, Mastering the TI-30Xa Scientific Calculator Augmented Intelligence for all 21st Century Students. How exciting when things come together like this right?

Typically I have drawn a hard line when it comes to using calculators; I don’t remember ever using one when I was in school. However, my son also pointed out how much I struggle to this day, with math and after looking over the foreword in the work book we received, I was certain that learning how to use a calculator like this would actually be a huge benefit to my son and his educational journey.

The book we received contains twenty five lessons in all; this includes the accompanying online video tutorials using the platform, Moodle. There is also a short online course help you learn how to use Moodle if you need it. The first 13 lessons should take about 10 minutes each. Each lesson contains: a pre-test, notes (pdfs you can download), video lesson, exercises, answers to exercises, post-test, and a forum. The pdfs in the lessons are also within the work book included for this course.

The first fifteen lessons were a wonderful “warm up” and confidence builder for my son as he refreshed his understanding of things like: real numbers, negative numbers, multiplication and division, percentages, squares, fractions, and fraction to decimal conversions. As we progressed, he would often comment on how much he liked Dr. Del being so clear and concise. My son likes those folks who know how to get right to the point, 🙂

My son had no problems, or hesitation, digging into this course (especially online) as he started out learning the many benefits of knowing how to use this scientific calculator. Referring to this calculator as the power tool of math was an analogy my son could really understand since he loves to build and use tools. He really loved the analogy that was made in the very first lesson that:

“Math is like a contact sport, You must play and practice to master the necessary skills and knowledge.”

When it comes time to begin trigonometry, the lessons following will be extremely helpful and lessons 21-25 are designed specifically for future STEM students. We are not there yet but I know we will be, all in good time. This program excellent for any student (in my opinion) in pre-algebra/algebra but also as an introduction to higher level maths. Seeing as we had no really delved into these, I was pretty impressed with how quickly he picked up on all of this.

Triad Math states that their mission is to deliver an effective, appropriate post-elementary math education to every individual who wants one—quickly, easily, and inexpensively using the many math programs created for middle and high school students to assist them in learning many varied math skills. They are not wrong. As I watch my son progress through this program I can attest to how quickly and easily he is gaining math skills and also having fun “playing math the sport.”

Find Triad Math on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearnPlayConnect
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TriadMath
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triadmathinc/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2wNPnArm66nzIicv_QUiw

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