I'd have to side with T.S. Lim. What are you trying to teach? Rote
memorization of a bunch of formulae? Let 'em program them into a text
calculator...a really valuable skill to learn to program. For those without
text storing calculators, encourage them to buy one or let them bring notes.
Maybe you could require a "standard" calculator in all your classes...maybe the
department would be willing to buy a few and rent them to students who don't
want to buy one. Organizing notes and is one of the best ways to review, IMHO.
You have to work harder now to come up with a good test. Not allowing the
newest tools into the classroom is just laziness on our part, isn't it? And
maybe a diservice to your students...can they compete with those students who
have had the advantage of being allowed to use the latest in technology? When
was the last time you were forced to analyze something without the aid of a
bookshelf full of reference materials?
I do feel plugging numbers into the formulaes is beneficial, but this might be
better handled with out of class assignments. Depends again on what you want to
test...computation or concept.
Warren
"T.S. Lim" wrote:
> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] says...
> >
> >I am trying to formulate a calculator policy in a department that currently
> >allows any calculator except "those capable of storing text". That rules
> >out all of the graphing calculators since they have alphanumeric
> >capability. I use a TI-83 or TI-86 in my statistics class but under the
> >current policy I cannot allow my students to bring one into class. If
> >anyone has a faculty or departmental policy that will allow me to use the
> >TI (or other similar) calculators while overcoming the concern that
> >students will (mis)use the text capability to store formulas or notes, I
> >would appreciate hearing from you.
>
> You must be kidding if you don't let students bring some cheat sheets to the
> exams. Who can remember the many formulas? What's the point of remembering
> those formulas?
>
> >Thanks
> >
> >Brian
> >
> >___________________________________________________________________________
> >
> >Brian E. Smith TEL: 514-398-4038 (Work)
> >McGill University FAX: 514-398-3876 (Work)
> >1001 Sherbrooke St. West FAX: 514-482-1639 (Home)
> >Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 1G5 EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >Url: http://www.management.mcgill.ca/homepage/profs/smithb
> >___________________________________________________________________________
> >
> >No human investigation can be called real science if it cannot be
> >demonstrated mathematically. Leonardo da Vinci
> >___________________________________________________________________________
>
> --
> T.S. Lim
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> www.Recursive-Partitioning.com
> ______________________________________________________________________
> Get paid to write a review! http://recursive-partitioning.epinions.com
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