[Phys-L] Re: Bateman (was survey meters)

[gspagna at RMC.EDU (Spagna Jr., George)]

Ludwik asks:

-----Original Message-----
From: Forum for Physics Educators [mailto:PHYS-L@list1.ucc.nau.edu] On
Behalf Of Ludwik Kowalski
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 2:25 PM
To: PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU

> 2) What effect does commercial mathematical software tools have on
> motivation to develop mathematical skills?

Our math department relies heavily on Mathematica.  I get students who
can't do simple calculus or even algebra without taking it into the
software package.  I find that they're learning keystrokes, not
mathematics.  They're certainly not developing anything resembling
mathematical reasoning skills.

Years ago I joked with a student that I would hit her with a Nerf bat
whenever she did something egregiously stupid with math - including
using software to integrate or differentiate simple analytic forms.  I
never got the bat, but my wife gave me a set of Nerf ping pong paddles,
which I sometimes take to class to make my point.

**********************************************
     "When you read or hear anything
        about the birth of the universe,
          someone is making it up."
                         -Leon Lederman
**********************************************

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