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Why mental computation matters

Think Mentals 1/6/18

Most of us have stood in front of a class of students and been asked, ‘Why do I need to solve this problem in my head when I’ve got a calculator on my iPad?’ It’s a good point. We’ve become so reliant on our devices to do our thinking for us, it’s easy to forget the importance of being able to quickly and efficiently solve maths problems without a calculator.

Mental computation does matter – and here are five good reasons why.

1. Beats using a calculator

Students may find it hard to believe but, when equipped with the right strategies, it’s possible to solve a problem using mental computation in less time than it takes to pull out a device, open the calculator function and tap in the numbers.

To prove the point, why not put mental computation to the test in your classroom and set your students this team challenge?

• Prepare two sets of simple questions that are best solved with a mental computation strategy students are familiar with, such as the Think Mentals Friendly and Fix addition strategy.
• Have all students tackle the first set of questions as a mental computation warm-up exercise.
• Split the class into two teams: the Courageous Calculators and the Mental Computation Conquerors. Instruct the mental computation team to answer the questions without using a calculator. Instruct the calculator team to use their devices to answer the questions – but they must switch off and put away their device after answering each question.
• Display or read aloud each question from the second set of questions and award a point to the first team to provide each correct answer.

It won’t be long before students see how solving a problem in their heads is often faster and more efficient than reaching for a calculator.

2. Helps with real-world estimates

We rely on a range of mental computation strategies every day. Here are some real-world situations that will require students to use mental computation all through their lives:

• assessing the value of a ‘buy two get one free’ offer in the supermarket
• working out the value of a percentage discount in a clothing store
• estimating how much change we expect to receive when we buy something from the local store
• double-checking an itemised cafe bill has been tallied correctly
• identifying an input error on a calculator when working through a complex maths problem.

When we’re proficient in mental computation, we automatically use the best strategy for the situation with little effort – saving us time and, if we’re lucky, money!

3. Promotes brain plasticity

When it comes to improving physical fitness, personal trainers love to tell us to ‘use it or lose it’. Our brains also have an amazing capacity to change and grow when regularly challenged with activities such as mental computation tasks.

Mental computation requires students to quickly and efficiently recall a range of strategies and then select the best one for the problem at hand. Every new strategy learned and problem solved encourages brain plasticity – that is, increased brain-cell activity and the creation of new pathways.

So, the next time you set your class a mental computation task, tell them it’s a power workout for the brain!

To find out more about brain plasticity, check out the article Mental maths and brain plasticity.

4. Fosters fluency

Studies show being fluent in mental computation is like being fluent in another language¹. When we speak a foreign language fluently and no longer need to look up most words in the dictionary, conversations become fun and more meaningful.

Becoming fluent in mental computation is no different. Mental computation strategies form the building blocks to fluency in more complex maths. When we’re no longer struggling to calculate each small part of a large maths problem, complex maths also becomes more meaningful and (dare we say it?) fun.

5. Increases confidence

Reaching a level of mental computation fluency where students aren’t jotting down or stumbling over simple calculations can be a real confidence boost. Confidence is self-perpetuating, so as students gain confidence in their maths ability, they’ll become more fluent, faster and more accurate. Soon, students will be breezing through maths problems using a range of mental computation strategies with ease.

A carefully scaffolded mental computation program – such as Think Mentals – provides the strategies and regular practice students need for the real world. So, the next time a student asks why it’s important to solve a problem in their head, give them five good reasons why mental computation matters.

References

1. Olsen, J.R., (NA), The Top Six Reasons Why Mental Math is Important and Useful, viewed 9 March 2018, http://faculty.wiu.edu/JR-Olsen/wiu/mentalmath/files/POSTER-The-Top-Six-Reasons-Why-Mental-Math-is-Important-and-Useful.pdf.↩

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