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Calculators vs. PDAs in the Classroom

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the crutches-for-the-weak-minded dept.

TheMatt writes "CNN.com is reporting about a new conflict perhaps emerging in classrooms: calculators v. PDAs. The article talks about how TI seems to be making their latest calculator more PDA-like, while PDAs are gaining TI-like functionality. A comment on current math education is this quote from the article: "When you have circles and ellipses, there is no way you'd be able to do this without a calculator," Jarvis said. "It helps us visualize what we're doing." Were the compass and geometry uninvented?"

3 of 534 comments (clear)

  1. PDA?? by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny
    Like, why not just go straight cellular and connect to the internet or your home beowulf cluster?

    The downside of being a geek is you don't know whether to lose face admitting your system is down and you can't reach it -or- admit you really didn't do your homework, thus can't download it.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Re:Lets crawl before we walk... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tip chart? My latest cell phone will calculate tips!

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  3. Yes, I uninvented them by Kohath · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was recently awarded the unpatent. Non-users of "the compass and geometry" must cease their inaction immediately, or I'll be forced to litigate.