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

[Bernard Cleyet <anngeorg@PACBELL.NET>]

I was rather shocked when several in my small (seven?) Chem class
admitted they never cracked the book, except to do the homework.  The up
side was they did well on the exams AND they weren't multiple choice,
so, at least, I could lecture.

bc

Spagna Jr., George wrote:

> 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