Re: Scientific method was physical pendulums/ an opportunity

[Joel Rauber <Joel_Rauber@SDSTATE.EDU>]

Leigh wrote in part:

> I have a real tactical problem here. My exam on Friday will be
> held in a room with 335 seats. I have 304 students still left
> in the course! I couldn't possibly allow them to use their
> calculators; I would be unable to enforce a ban on programmable
> calculators with text and formula storage capability. As it is
> my TAs and I will have to get very glowery to reduce wandering
> eyes.
>
> Leigh

Leigh would you share a few thoughts about not allowing calculators on
tests.  Have you been doing it long? Does it work well? What sort of student
resistance do you have? What's your reasons for doing it? etc etc.

I have been toying with this idea for a while now, but haven't had the guts
to implement it such a policy.  I worry more and more about "programmable
calculators with text and formula storage capability" as well; and like you
wouldn't like to enforce forbidding particular types of calculator.  One
might add that some calculators now-days can transmit to other calculators
information; and I assume this capability will get more so.

To date I haven't worried too much as most of my students can't operate the
sophisticated features of their calculators; but this may change.  One
thought I had, but not supported by my colleagues, would be for the
department to provide cheap calculators for test time.  Much like I provide
rulers for ray tracing on optics section tests in my introductory course.

Joel Rauber