1. Build Good Ergonomic Habits – Try to keep your calculator flat on your desk. Consider using it with your non-dominant hand. Try to never put your pen or pencil down. I.e. don’t waste time picking up your calculator.
2. Don’t let a Tool Become a Crutch – Using a calculator for a simple calculations may be slower than doing it by hand. Though it may be cognitively easier to offload simple tasks to the calculator, it’s a time-wasting trap; don’t fall for the trap.
3. Let the Calculator Store Calculations; Don’t Round – A calculator can remember numbers for you; there is no need to manually re-enter numbers into the calculator that it computed, and there is no need to round the results of intermediate calculations. For example, on a TI-83/84+ the Ans variable stores the most recent result, and numbers can be manually stored to and recalled from any variable accessed with the ALPHA button, using the STO→ button and RCL command. A TI-83/84+ can also store function formulas to the variables Y₁ through Y₀.
4. Learn to Navigate the Calculator Input Line Efficiently – Most calculators have arrows keys to navigate the input line, but there are often faster ways. For example, on a TI-83/84+ the 2nd and CLEAR and DEL buttons are useful for navigating and editing the input line. Furthermore the ENTRY command can be used to cycle through previous inputs.
5. Attune to the Full Capabilities of your Calculator – Skim your calculator’s manual, know what your device can (and can’t) do.