Calculators and Achievement Gaps?

At ExploreLearning we are evangelists for introducing technology to the K12 classroom; however, we are mindful that there are always positive and negative aspects associated with technology and education.

Regarding the negative, a recent report from the Brookings Institution looks at the practice of allowing students to use calculators before they've mastered basic "pencil and paper" computational skills. The analysis concludes that,

If students are only able to compute accurately with calculators—or if their computational skills are so weak that only the simplest of calculations can be made—then students are doomed to solving only trivial mathematical problems (Loveless).

If true, that can't be a good thing, especially in light of another news item suggesting the importance of student mastery of math and science as being a key factor in our country's economic growth.