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[Phys-L] Re: Calculators a Distraction?

Dan,
For AP, they should already be doing their multiple choice without
calculators. Problems are included using fairly easy to calculate
numbers. The best source I have found for AP MC is the Cutnell and
Johnson test bank. There are plenty of problem questions with easy to
calculate in your head solutions. Also, sign up for the AP Physics
list serve through the College Board website and there are tons of
people who can give you better advice than I.
Many people use WebAssign, but it is a bit costly for me.
Kathy Daniel
On Feb 5, 2005, at 6:38 PM, Dan Folmar wrote:

I'm a fairly new teacher; and I'm currently teaching Applied, General,
Honors, and AP physics at the high school level. One thing I've
observed regarding students' performance on tests is that they rely
too much (or at least more than I would like) on their calculators.
Lower level students will punch some numbers in, hit enter, and write
down any answer that looks reasonable. Higher level students
(particularly, AP students) can avoid writing down the steps of their
solutions (and writing out the units and showing me their thought
process) by letting their programmable calculators do most of the
work.

I'm interested to hear the group's opinion on giving "no calculator"
tests. These tests would still include difficult problems; however,
the actual calculation pieces would work out so that the work could be
done manually without too much additional time. Alternatively,
solutions would be written in terms of fundamental units rather than
numbers.

Also, if you have experience with these types of tests, do you have
any advice on developing appropriate questions? Do any online sources
exist for these?

Thanks,
Dan Folmar
Springfield H.S., Delaware County, PA


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Kathy Daniel
Oakland High School
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
kcdohs@comcast.net