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Empowering Students With Computational Estimation Skills
Yea-Ling Tsao
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DOI:10.17265/2161-623X/2025.09.001
Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA
This paper highlights the significance of teaching estimation to students and outlines effective techniques for doing so. Estimation is a crucial skill in mathematics that supports real-world applications, improves number sense, aids problem-solving efficiency, helps identify errors, and builds student confidence. Important methods include rounding, front-end estimation, clustering, using compatible numbers, and range estimation. To embed these strategies into the curriculum, educators should incorporate regular practice, real-life problem-solving, collaborative work, the use of technology tools, and continuous assessment with reflection. Teachers, as agents of change, can significantly enhance students’ mathematical abilities by emphasizing estimation, preparing them for situations requiring quick, reasonable judgments. This paper provides insights and practical guidance on integrating estimation into daily teaching, highlighting its enduring importance in education and its positive long-term impact on students’ mathematical skills.
teaching estimation, computational estimation, estimation process and strategies
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