Use these free resources to get the best out of your graphing calculator

If you’ve recently started using the fx-CG50 graphic calculator, or you will soon be using it for the first time, you might have some questions about the easiest ways to build your confidence with the handset.

This is a highly powerful device, so it’s understandable that some users may find its sheer range of functionality and capabilities daunting at first.

Fortunately, there are many resources out there to help you get the best out of our most advanced graphing calculator, many of which are absolutely free.

In this blog, we’ll look at some specific examples.

Casio Education on YouTube

Watching short, easily digestible videos can be a highly effective way to take in and remember information. Lots of people are visual learners, for whom video is the perfect way to absorb details and technical points that might be tricky to grasp in writing.

You’ll find a large collection of videos on the Casio Education YouTube page, many of which focus on specific features and functionality of the scientific and graphic calculators that make up our full range.

If you’re just getting started with the fx-CG50, head to the Playlists section of our channel, where you’ll find curated lists of videos covering basic processes and quick skills on the calculator.

All of the videos are short – with many less than a minute long – so you can pick the ones that are most relevant to you and get the information you need as quickly as possible.

Our resources centre

Much like our YouTube channel, our online resources centre is home to an extensive archive of useful information that has been broken up into small chunks to make it more accessible.

There are various criteria you can use to filter through the library, including calculator model, so you can be sure that you’re only looking at resources that are relevant to the fx-CG50.

Of particular use to those who are new to our most advanced graphic calculator is the ‘Getting Started’ collection.

Here, you’ll find ‘how to’ leaflets covering basic functionality such as Run-Matrix, Statistics and Table modes, videos on plotting graphs and resetting the calculator, and much more besides.

You can also sign up to our resources centre for free and create your own, entirely bespoke library of items that are of the greatest use to you.

Introductory training

Another free resource we offer specifically for those who want to build their confidence with the fx-CG50 is an introductory training session.

These one-hour events are designed for teachers who have little to no experience with the calculator. The huge range of functionality available on the device means it’s capable of many things, but if your focus is on starting out with basics like graphing and solving equations, this training is ideal.

Sessions are led by experts who are highly experienced with the fx-CG50, meaning they can answer any questions you might have about how the calculator works and aspects of it that you find challenging.

To ensure the training is as relevant and useful as possible, the calculator’s functionality is presented in the context of a typical A-level equation, of the sort that is likely to appear in an exam paper.

Regular use and experimentation

One of the best things you can do to learn not just a calculator, but any device, is simply to use it, be curious about it and see what happens when you experiment with different inputs and variables.

As soon as you have access to an fx-CG50, it costs nothing other than some of your time to sit down with the calculator and start exploring its capabilities.

Of course, time is a precious resource for any teacher. We’re confident, however, that you’ll find this a worthwhile investment when you start to become more proficient with the handset and its full potential as a teaching and learning tool becomes clear.

You might also find that the classes you teach are a big help in this regard. Naturally curious and comfortable with technology – particularly when it has the potential to make their lives easier in exams – your students could help your own learning journey with the fx-CG50 by asking questions and suggesting new avenues of enquiry that you can explore together.

We’re always keen to hear views and questions from teachers, schools and education leaders about Casio technologies.

If you would like to speak to someone about the fx-CG50 and the benefits it could offer your school, please contact us.