Re: Sig Figures

["Carr, John" <carrj@METROLINK.NET>]

I can appreciate the point you are trying to make.  I agree with most of what
you are saying but isn't contrary opinions the fuel for our deeper
understanding of our own position on any subject.  It seems to me that the
desire for verbal (typed) conflict is inherently healthy for this forum.  We
read the messages everyone has sent and develop the idea or concept in our own
terms.  If we can not, we ask more questions until it makes sense to us the
individual teacher.

As for the sig fig problem, there is a contrast between the High School and
college freedom.  I, as a HS teacher, have a wide range of freedom but am still
held to some pretty tight standards on what will be emphasized. In my county,
sig figs are a big thing.  Sometimes my personal opinion (like sig figs) and
the county standards do not match.  We are tasked to prepare our students for
all colleges and not a specific course with the beliefs of one instructor.  And
yes it does get in the way sometimes but this is the nature of public
education.  My origional question with this thread was inspired by my desire to
do the best job I can in my class with the school's standards.  Hopefully, I
will succeed.



Jim Green wrote:

> I have found this thread very instructive -- not really about sig figs, but
> about how members of the list deal with new material:
>
> After the original question there was a plethora of responses the likes of
> "Well I have always done it this way."  Then someone (I think it was Leigh)
> who says "No No No That ain't correct.  (With whom I agree BTW)  Then the
> thread divides into two paths: one, which says something like "This is the
> way I have always done it and that is good enough for me. Or "I read it in
> a text which was published in 1902 and therefore it must be correct."  And
> the other path, which was taken by only one or two who made an analysis of
> the proposal and came to some conclusion based on thought. (I don't
> remember who they were as the quotes of quotes of quotes became too deep to
> follow.)
>
> However, no one responded with "Oh, yes, that _is_ a better way to look at
> the issue. I will strive to adopt it in my thinking and teaching."
>
> Now folks, if we are not here to gain new insights into the teaching of
> physics, why are we here? Well, yes, some are here because they want to
> show off how much physics they know and would otherwise be bored to death
> -- and, alas,  some are here because they want desperately to learn -- to
> get questions answered so they can become better teachers.
>
> But most of us are Luddites who have nothing better to do.
>
> I can't tell you how much better I feel now.
> Jim Green
> mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
> http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen