Subject: Re: Calculator Rental Program
From: BETH HENTGES (b.hentges@cctc.cc.mn.us)
Date: Mon Feb 07 2000 - 16:19:58 EST
We require graphing calcuators from Intermediate Algebra on up. When we
first started, we had a few calculators in the library that were on
"closed reserve" meaning that they could be used in the library but not
taken out of the library. I don't think we do that any more. We
haven't had any complaints, nor students who have said it was a burden.
Some students who are getting financial assistance through get-to-work
programs need a letter (or an indication on a syllabus) that the
calculator is required, and then the program pays for it as it would for
a text.
Beth Hentges
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
>>> "George E. Matthews" <matthewg@aurora.sunyocc.edu> 02/07 3:04 PM
>>>
At Onondaga (NY) Community College, we do a calculator LOAN (per class
as
needed) and NOT a calculator rental.
When we started using "graphing calculators" in PreCalculus and
Calculus
classes [?about 4 years ago], we got about 30 loaners to share as
needed.
The success of that decision led us to get 60 more, and we began to
REQUIRE their use in PreCalculus and above, and to encourage their use
in
ALL classes above the Basic math (Arithmetic) level. We announced the
new
requirement without fanfare or fuss. [We didn't even go through
Curriculum
Committee. Shhh!]
Because of our LOANERS, we feel that no one is deprived of the use of
this
tool on the basis of financial hardship. [Some programs for
economically
disadvantaged students do provide calculators and computers during
each
term of study to those who are eligible.]
We considered a RENTAL program, but could not get anyone to coordinate
the
paperwork. Because of lack of control over the loaners, we have
"lost"
about half of the original supply. Nevertheless, we feel our program
is
successful and MOST of the students purchase their own within a few
days
of registering for a course that uses graphing calculators. The
campus
bookstore will (would) match any locally-advertised price -- and sales
are
common at area retailers.
In brief, I would suggest that you do NOT do a RENTAL, because of the
headache of keeping track of the paperwork, and accounting for loss
and
breakage. A class-by-class LOAN program (say 3 per class -- the
students
WILL buy them IF you use them) works well. I strongly urge ID/
calculator
swap (it only takes a minute or two) to cut down on shrinkage. We
suspect
that the greatest losses occur in the class(es) where this is not
done!
On Mon, 7 Feb 2000, Catherine Pirri wrote:
> Readers,
>
> We are considering starting a calculator rental program and are
looking for
> successful programs at other colleges. What do you do that works?
>
> 1. How many calculators did you originally purchase?
> 2. How much do you rent them for per semester?
> 3. Do you have an option to purchase program?
>
> Thanks,
> Cathie
>
> Catherine H. Pirri
> Professor of Mathematics
> cpirri@necc.mass.edu
> (978) 556-3319
> Northern Essex Community College
> Haverhill, MA 01830
>
matthewg@sunyocc.edu
George E. Matthews, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY13215
(315) 498-2381
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