Re: TI-83+ or TI-86?
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Re: TI-83+ or TI-86?
All of the calculators for sale today have gone through a phase of being "not
permitted in classrooms". Yet today most college math courses (and some high
school courses) _require_ students to have access to graphing calculators in
order to explore the deeper areas of mathematics that are addressed in today's
curriculum. The jump to the TI-89/92 is a bigger one than the jump to a
straightforward graphing calculator was, but certainly at some point in the
future access to symbolic calculators will be required in order to teach
tomorrow's math.
If one has a symbolic calculator in one's hand, the _thrust_ of much of today's
mathematics instruction is "off the point". I have taught mixed classes, where
some students (by policy) were able to register with no calculator at all,
others had graphing calculators, and a few had TI-89's or 92's. Some of these
latter thought that they would be getting a free ride, and would not be
required to do the _thinking_ that is the point of a college math course.
However, with some expenditure of mental perspiration, I was able to pose
assignments and exams that presented a fair challenge to each student in the
course, no matter how equipped.
Many instructors do not have the luxury or the desire of putting in such
expenditure, and depend on traditional challenges in the textbooks. Having a
student with a symbolic calculator sitting in the classroom really messes up
the evaluation, and one can see why the instructor would not want to allow use
of TI-89's in the classroom or on tests. But, what is the value of the teaching
that the instructor _does_ provide, if it is made to some degree pointless by
the existence of symbolic calculators in the world? Here, to me, is a case
where students ought to be challenging the mathematics department to provide
timely and relevant instruction that makes good _use_ of this new technology.
If you don't want to get into this battle, then you should probably stick with
the TI-83 or TI-86 -- you can still learn a lot. But keep your eye on the
future!
RWW Taylor
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester NY 14623
>>>> The plural of mongoose begins with p. <<<<
-----Original Message-----
I thought about the 89, but wondered if it would be permitted in class, as I
have seen postings that say the 92+ is not permitted by some teachers. I am
under the impression that the main difference between the 89 and 92+ is the
case and keyboard style keys on the 92+. I wouldn't want to buy something
that I would not be allowed to use!
I would like to have the 89 though. Any thoughts about it being banned from
classes?
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