I'll use $1k as a cost for a laptop in the discussion. New laptops are
already well under that number and generally following Moore's law. The
educational version of Matlab is $90. MuPad is free to download for an
individual. Used laptops often come with a spread sheet. I suspect that
if the market existed, Math Works could profitably sell an even smaller
version for $15 or less, particularly if it allowed them to capture a
larger market share at the university level and the corporate level.
Beverly said: "...Most parents cannot afford a laptop for each of their
children ..."
That might be true. But a substantial fraction can. At 1% of the
population can afford 10 or more laptops per child. Upperclass private
kindergarten in NY costs ~$17k/yr. Even some Catholic high schools charge
$15k/yr. Take a look at your average suburban high school parking lot.
How many vehicles in that lot cost in excess of $20k and depreciated by
more than $1k the first day they were driven? Perhaps 10% of the
population has an annual income below $10k (sorry, it's 4am and I'm too
lazy to go browse for a more precise number)
Beverly also said, "...require them to spend hundreds of dollars for a
laptop when a GC..."
"Require" is a poor choice. Ed reopened this discussion by saying, "
> >> The calculator is a teaching tool, and as such, must be used in all
math
> >> courses - probably 7th grade and up. As always, the key is appropriate
> >use- not button pushing."
When the GC kids show up looking for a job with GC skills.....and it is
quite likely that their kids in turn will not be able to afford much.
----------
> From: Edward Laughbaum <elaughba@math.ohio-state.edu>
> Notebook computers have their place, like writing papers or dealing with
> massive files, but am not certain how this relates to the teaching of
> mathematics - the point of the posting.
The relation is simple: Most kids don't take math in isolation from
1. Languages, history, and other courses where a GC is a paper weight
2. School needs to have as much relevance to the job market as possible.
>You mention that your kid will not
> waste time with them. Does this mean you will deny your child the
learning
> experiences available through the teaching of mathematics with hand held
> technology? I expect "never" is a strong word too.
I said that "I will try to insure that my kids never waste time.." That
means I would be willing to AP my kid around any course that required
extensive use of a GC. My four year old can navigate Windows and has the
feel of many edutainment programs: When two digit problems start
appearing, the cursor glides up to Customization...Options.....Level 2. My
7 year old can do simple problems and plots with Excel. So why would HE
ever WANT to use a GC?
>
> Someone else will probably mention this, but students can't afford
> computers. Maybe the discussion is moot.
Keep your eye on Moore's law. Plan ahead about 2 to 4 years: new, low end,
laptops should be under $400. Even right now, used 486 desktops and Mac's
are
selling below $500 with software installed. Continuing to develop new
curricula centered around GC's instead of looking at the future and the job
market is borderline lunacy.
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************