Take a very quick look through Section 1.5 of the Calculator Book, entitled ‘Everyday calculations?. Do not read it all yet!
Use the headings, subheadings, diagrams, and so on to give yourself an overview of what the section is about. In particular, ask yourself the following questions.
Are there many new calculator skills?
What new mathematical ideas are covered?
What sorts of activities are required of me?
How long will it take me?
There are only two new calculator skills: storing numbers and entering alphabetic characters.
Percentage increases and decreases, including working with VAT;
Comparing price rises;
Conducting an investigation;
Estimation.
Calculating using the calculator and checking calculations;
Following instructions, especially those involving key sequences;
Recalling earlier skills;
Comparing different values and methods; for example, with practising methods just introduced;
Making notes and reflecting on methods; Investigating, which might involve some research;
Predicting and estimating to get a rough idea of the solution to a problem; Interpreting results.
These activities can be divided roughly into ‘doing exercises?, ‘using skills to work on a problem? and ‘making notes?.
The answer will vary from student to student, but it will clearly depend on how familiar you are with the use of percentages.
Just as glancing back is a very useful study skill, so too is glancing ahead as it sets the ensuing work into context. It may take only a few seconds to complete but you need to be quite disciplined in order to do it—there's usually an almost overwhelming urge to press on with the actual study.
So, now that you have glanced ahead,… press on!
Original Copyright © 1996 The Open University. Now made available within the Creative Commons framework under the CC Attribution – Non-commercial licence (see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/).
