Re: New HP 50 G ?

ME wrote:
I started out using a slide rule but there never was a limit to the kind of
slide rule that you could use. A better slide rule would provide an unfair
advantage too.

Hmmm. I wonder if my circular slide was considered an unfair advantage
by my classmates. :-) Having only one index, it was definately faster
to use.

Part of education is to be able to choose and be proficient
with the best tools that you can find. They should have a "no electronic
devices" part of the exam and a "anything goes without communication" part
of the exam.

The AP Calculus and Physics exams have almost what you're describing.
There's a non-calculator part and an "ALMOST anything goes" part. (On
the Calculus test, you are REQUIRED to have a calculator that will
graph, numerically solve, and numerically differentiate & integrate.)
You can have a calculator with a CAS, any programs, tables, equations,
information, etc. you wish, as long at the calculator fits the
restrictions mentioned before. However, the tests are specifically
written in such a way that these extra helps won't really help you.

"Drawing the line" is totally arbitrary.

I think everyone would agree that there has to be a line somewhere.
Even "anything goes without communication" is a line. If you allowed
something as powerful as a laptop and had all your notes and a database
of information (say like a downloaded copy of the MathWorld site, or
all the past tests), it would be approaching "communication" even if
there's no link to the outside world.

I think saying "anything goes" would open up a can of worms that the
examiners would have a hard time dealing with. I think they've hit a
good balance based on the current, student affordable, technology. The
tricky part is that this is a moving target.

-wes

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Not Just the US With Education Problems
    ... that anyone did much about logarithms anymore, ... The point is that we don't have people learning the 'skills' involved ... But again a great example---a good slide rule ... I used both a calculator and a slide rule. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Not Just the US With Education Problems
    ... that anyone did much about logarithms anymore, ... The point is that we don't have people learning the 'skills' involved ... I earned my nerd status with a little plastic slide rule that was ... I used both a calculator and a slide rule. ...
    (talk.origins)
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  • Re: Not Just the US With Education Problems
    ... that anyone did much about logarithms anymore, ... The point is that we don't have people learning the 'skills' involved ... I earned my nerd status with a little plastic slide rule that was ... I used both a calculator and a slide rule. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Digital vs. Binary Computers
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