Session 2 started with the calculators. I distributed the Sharp EL-531RB calculators to the students, and then we went over some of the essentials for using them:

• turning it on and off
• entering a few standard problems (e.g., 4*5=, 787-429=, and 42.32.83=
• examine the up arrow key, to recall earlier work.
• enter a long problems such as 234+7844+519+781+304+712, stopping befgore the equal sign. Then we can use the and to move through the problem, adding characters or deleting them, via the key. Move to the end and press the = key.
• checking out the order of operations via the problem 7+3*5-2=
• introducing the parentheses, via (7+3)*(5-2)
• recalling and changing the problem to (7+3)(5-2)
• using the key to convert the answer to a fraction.
• using the key again to convert the fraction to a decimal.
• using the key to enter fractions, and mixed numebrs.

Here are a few points on the second session.

• In my Monday section, we spent a good deal of time covering the conversion of "units", especially metric units.
• the charts given in the book are not at all helpful, I need to develop some better charts for that.
• the students seemed to like the exercise sheets on conversions of fractions, percents, and decimals.
• they want more exercise sheets related to conversion of units.