that sucks dude, really sucks.Originally Posted by Ploughmans Lunch
Someone stole my bike. I liked that bike. Bye, bike.
As for the discussion about devices in schools. I think a good scientific calculator is worth having. especially if you're going into a more technically oriented career.
I remember when I started year 10, back in 1994... I was heading towards a career in engineering, all the students doing the medium to high level maths had to buy a TI-82 graphing calculator. They were $192. they were cool, and programmable, some of the guys in my physics class programmed a level of what they called stick doom, it was a frame at a time but impressive on a dot matrix screen.
They also ruined my ability to draw a graph from a simple equation easily. they were only allowed in exams if you could prove to the examiner at the beginning of the class that you had wiped the memory so that you had no notes or equations written in them.
Once I got to university they were banned from all exams. I've hardly used it since.
I sometimes use excel for larger repetitive calculations but as a professional engineer, I am yet to find a more efficient tool than a pencil and pad for doing calculations and rough workings on. I think something that needs to be made clear to the education system, like everything else, just because something is cool and shiny doesn't make it better. It is important to keep up with advances in technology and be aware of it, but it doesn't have to run your entire existence.
as a non-teacher, non-parent that's my 2c.
Reply With Quote