[Phys-L] Re: Why Calculators? (Was: Calculators a Distraction?)

["Spagna Jr., George" <gspagna@RMC.EDU>]

Bernard asks:

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernard Cleyet [mailto:anngeorg@PACBELL.NET]
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 9:51 PM
To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU
Subject: Re: Why Calculators? (Was: Calculators a Distraction?)

> p.s. don't all programmable / graphic calcs. arrive w/ a book? -- maybe
> your [Gary T's] students [nasty coming up] haven't learned how to read?

I think they can read, but they don't.  In fact, many of them discard
the manual.  Rather, they rely on the instructor to tell them how to do
a particular calculation.  I warn my students that I don't know how to
use their calculators ... so they'd better hang on to the manual.

********************************************
 "Eternity is very long,
                 especially toward the end."
                                -  Woody Allen
********************************************

Dr. George Spagna
Chair, Physics Department
Randolph-Macon College
P.O. Box 5005
Ashland, VA 23005-5505

phone: (804) 752-7344
fax: (804) 752-4724
e-mail: gspagna@rmc.edu
http://faculty.rmc.edu/gspagna