ticalc.org
Basics Archives Community Services Programming
Hardware Help About Search Your Account
   Home :: Community :: Articles :: Are They Necessary?
Are They Necessary?

Posted on 4 March 1999

The following text was written by Shane Burgess:

I have talked with many fellow classmates and college professors about using graphing calculators. Some of the questions I asked were as simple as "which one should I get?" and some were as complex as how to use specific functions on a certain calculator. But, if a class really doesn't need a graphing calculator, and the instructor doesn't support their use in a class, then they may just get in the way. Especially if the user is playing games during class time.

Most of the math instructors at the community college I attend require the use of graphing calculators. This is great, for it has been proven that when graphing calculators are in the curriculum, they do indeed help the students understand the necessary concepts faster and more efficiently. They are a tool, a very powerful tool, and they should not be abused.

Graphing Calculators were designed to help students grasp the concepts of Algebra, Algebra II, and other graphing concepts. Even though they are capable of playing games, that is not what they were meant for. Playing games while in a class will be distraction, a disturbance to others, and slow done the lesson for the class. Many instructors are aware of the fact graphing calculators can play games, and they won't allow them for the lesson or for the entire class. This is not what we want to happen.

Graphing calculators are an essential tool for learning difficult concepts. I applaud the teachers that feel as strong as I do about them. If a student is only playing games on their calculator, then maybe they should have the privilige of using a calculator taken away. That's correct, using a graphing calculator is a privilige, not a right. A student can fight and moan about losing their calculator, but if they were misusing the "tool" then it is fair.

Graphing calculator games are great and a lot of fun. It is okay to have them on the calculator, but to avoid any possible conflicts, try to follow these general guidlines:

  • DO NOT play games during a lecture or during an important lesson. No matter how boring.
  • Use the calculator only when the instructor allows. If the instructor says no calculators, then put the calculator(s) away.
  • Spend more time taking notes by hand and listening to the instructor during lectures. If you use your calculator to take notes, then type them up after class. It can be a distraction to others if you are "flaunting" your calculator to take notes.
  • If you are in a class that doesn't require graphing calculators as part of the lesson, PUT IT AWAY!! Again, this can be a distraction for the user and the surrounding people.
  • If you must play games, play them when you have the time. If you have a test to study for, save the games for later. Wait until you have the time.
  • Graphing calculators are tools. Respect that, and if necessary, remove the games if they are getting to be too much of a distraction. Use the calculator for what it was intended.

  Reply to this item

Respect
Hinge

This is a matter of respect. Playing a game
during class is disrespectful to the teacher and
to your fellow students. I do have games on my TI
and have played them at school, but not during a
lecture -- only when nothing is going on and I
have no work to do. Yes, I am co valedictorian of
a class of 1000, have a 4.75 GPA, and could
handle playing games during class, but I have too
much respect for my teachers and fellow students
to do that. It would make my friends who have to
work at achieving what they do feel unintelligent
because I would be flaunting that I do not have
to work hard at what I do. It is very simple --
games should not be played in class.

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 04:18 GMT

Re: Respect
Jadrium Gossard  Account Info

For those of you that want a summary of things to come....
i have a gpa of (insert grade point average of 4 or higher) i play games in class and still do well.

Calculators aren't meant for games yadda yadda.

it's disrespectful to teachers...

Now for something you haven't already heard.
Calculators are whatever you want to make them. Much like computers. A computer can be a place to collect gig after gig of pornography and time wasting games or
to do personal finance and write essays. You laid the cash down for your calculator, i say do what ever the hell you want with it.

As for the respect issue...
There are way to many variables...
does the teacher respect you?
does the teacher just read from the manual?
does the teacher make an attempt to make things interesting?
If there is something valid to be learned, get off the calculator.the end.

Reply to this comment    9 October 1999, 00:09 GMT


Re: Respect
Kian Cochrane  Account Info

So? I have a 4.95 GPA, AP national scholar award, and all that other shit, and I don't show one bit of f***ing respect to my teachers 'cuz I don't need to. School is about grades, dumbass, not about morals or respect.

Reply to this comment    22 October 1999, 23:36 GMT

High School Students are Missing the Point
NK

Understanding and learning a subject are mutually exclusive things. Mastering the operations behind high school math is useful, but it does not make you good at math.

Lecture is important:

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 04:53 GMT

High School Students are Missing the Point
NK

Understanding and learning a subject and getting good grades in it, are mutually exclusive things. In American HS, students master the operations behind algebra and calculus, math is a lot more than that.

Lecture is important,
Many math geniuses have existed in the past, and have done amazing work for this generation of math students to learn the 1% of the material of mathematics that is1 covered in HS. If you like playing games during class -- fine -- but do not belittle hundreds of years of hard work by assuming you are good at the subject.

You are only fooling yourself.

n

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 04:57 GMT


Re: High School Students are Missing the Point
Teacher

I have to agree good post

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 06:22 GMT

Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
Daniel

They aren't necessary, but they make lot of things
easier. In school we are allowed to use'em, even on tests (that's very nice). My maths professor even supports this and owns several too. He's is one of the most famous game writers for TIs I think. Thanx for one nice teacher.

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 19:08 GMT


Re: Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
SPUI

What has he programmed?

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 22:36 GMT

Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
NiGeL
(Web Page)

At my school, striking down upon playing games on calcs seems petty to me. Don't get me wrong, I play them every day, nearly every hour, and my teachers hate it. But what they do allow is the playing of Gameboys during class. Do they hide it? no. Do they get in trouble? no. Do they ever get taken away? no. I DON'T SEE WHY THE HELL THEY GET AWAY WITH THAT, AT LEAST A CALC HAS SOME EDUCATIONAL VALUE. Will any teachers respond to me and give me an answer?

Reply to this comment    7 March 1999, 22:03 GMT

Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
Hutpizza
(Web Page)

I have read the article and ramdomly scanning the comments. Some have considerable points, some are irrelevant. Yes, calculators are necessary in school, but become distractions if they are used to play games when users are no supposed to. There are instances where the user has a 4.0 GPA, but I have found that that is rare. Most people I know who do this has a GPA of about and I know more than 80% of the student body at my school. Just to make my point clear, calculators CAN HAVE GAMES ON THEM, BUT SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A HANDHELD TOY UNLESS YOU HAVE FREE TIME.

Reply to this comment    8 March 1999, 01:08 GMT

Re:
FlyAgaric

********** ********** ********** **********
********** ********** ********** **********
********** ********** ********** **********

What we do with our OWN calculators is our OWN damned business. If you think you actually have the power to do something about it, then by all means, I allow you to continue. But you cannot. Which is why this stupid argument has absolutely no use whasoever.

What is the use of arguing? To achieve a desired goal. BUT YOU CANNOT BAN CALCULATOR GAMES!! Any goals you have are not attainable!! So what motivation did you HAVE, Shane, in writing this commentary!?!? Did you actually believe people would agree with you, and erase all their games? HAH!

I happen to believe that your letter was simply to start controversy.


FlyAgaric

Reply to this comment    8 March 1999, 02:08 GMT

Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
anarkhos

Are they necessary? No... but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't exist. Computers were originally just calculators, and then advanced to other areas of use, databases, etc... and finally games. Why should graphing calculators be any different?

Reply to this comment    8 March 1999, 14:02 GMT


Re: Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
GavinO  Account Info
(Web Page)

I think that my TI-83 has been helpful, in that I can see several results back and store a number to a variable to check things. Personally, for gaming I prefer my device-of-choice, the Compaq C-140 (A 4Mhz SH3 processor with Windows CE). The TI/Compaq combo is quite useful, as the Compaq allows text entry and huge Word files and Excel spreadsheets, while the TI has awesome analytical capabilities. I program for both, and find it more educational than many of my classes (by the way, my average is an A, and I do game QUITE often)

Reply to this comment    21 December 2000, 23:37 GMT

Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
dripfree

no they are not necesary i own 3 graphing calculators 1 i bought 2 i stole, they are full of games and i play them in class constently, that is what keeps me from going nuts in school

Reply to this comment    9 March 1999, 21:37 GMT

Re: Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
Andrew Hancox  Account Info
(Web Page)

Oh good, now we are discussing an ethical question with a thief!
I think I speek for everyone here when I say that I am disgusted, the world would be a better place without people like you.

Reply to this comment    16 August 1999, 19:40 GMT

Re: Re: Article: "Are They Necessary?"
CobraA1  Account Info
(Web Page)

You STOLE calculators? That makes getting a TI-GraphLink and downloading DoorsOS worth it just for the password protection. Most people don't know how to reset a TI-89, and even if they figured it out, they'd wipe everything, so there goes the games and everything else.

You should return the calculators you stole. If you want entertainment, BUY something. Don't take away $100 - $150 of somebody's hard-earned money just so you can avoid taking notes.

I don't play games in class, I pay attention. The reason why I got games is twofold: 1. I'm a traveller, and it provides entertainment while I travel. 2. I'm a programmer, and it's just another platform to conquer for me ;).

Reply to this comment    9 December 2000, 19:49 GMT


Re: Re: Article: Are They Necessary?
andrew hudson Account Info

You stole 2 calculators? That's really not nice...
My TI-86 got stolen, so now, I don't let my 83+ SE go out of my sight. It's quite a shame that people have to go to this extreme for people like you to not take their belongings.

Reply to this comment    10 June 2008, 17:56 GMT

Re: Are They Necessary?
atevin Account Info

Who cares if you have games on your calc? I generally program during math class on my calculator (a ti-83) and also during science class, and don't pay attention in any of my other classes and still manage a 95% average. because I don't need to pay attention most of the time. It doesn't make a difference whether I listen or not, so I choose not to listen and not to slowly die of boredom.

Reply to this comment    16 November 2003, 19:51 GMT


Re: Re: Are They Necessary?
Aryna  Account Info
(Web Page)

I, well, I don't know, I'd be very sad if I was no longer allowed to use my baby (yes, my graphing calc. is my baby) during math because I played games on it during math. Plus, I get okay grades in math, better then some who pay attention in class. And yes, it is possible to have a C in math, understand what we're learning, even though you don't pay attention, so, I personally think it depends entirely on the person. And yes, I know, my grades would be better if I payed attention, but I do sometimes, and I will now since my mom told me this morning that she'll take my baby away from me if she hears reports of my messing with it during class again.

Reply to this comment    3 October 2008, 14:01 GMT
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  

You can change the number of comments per page in Account Preferences.

  Copyright © 1996-2012, the ticalc.org project. All rights reserved. | Contact Us | Disclaimer