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Are there any HP calculators used in German schools?
Message #1 Posted by Mike (Stgt) on 25 Oct 2004, 8:55 a.m.

I just looked through some "Bildungsserver" (information offered by ministry of education) to find a list of calculators allowed at schools. What I found are links to three "market companions" of HP, one of them showing a list in which county which of his models is allowed at what school. Nothing from HP.

And then this http://www.landeswettbewerb-mathematik.de

Anybody here who knows which HP calcs are allowed in which school? Seems to be an issue to find out.

Ciao.....Mike

      
Re: Are there any HP calculators used in German schools?
Message #2 Posted by Frank Boehm on 25 Oct 2004, 4:52 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Mike (Stgt)

There is no common rule which calculator to use. This is mostly a school-wide decision; general consent is that the calculator has to be of common (AOL) logic and being non-programmable, preferably being cheap and non-destructable too. To reduce support (aka teaching) troubles, a class purchase is offered at a discounted price, at times a certain model is required (this might be the case in some states). Usually you could use whatever you want though (which happens in higher classes). I remember using my Casio fx-7000 and later 28 C - good thing the teachers didn't know about them being programmable :)

The link you posted is for a state-wide challenge targeted at schools. TI being a sponsor is not a surprise - TI has been a supplier of "standard calculators" for 25 years now; with HP being far too expensive.

            
Re: Are there any HP calculators used in German schools?
Message #3 Posted by Mike (Stgt) on 26 Oct 2004, 5:10 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Frank Boehm

Yes, HP = High Price <G>, as student I payed 500 Deutsch Marks for a *used* HP-41C, that was the complete monthly budget. Well, others laught at me, "look what I payed for my XYZ", but I was at most the first with correct results when others still typed on their XYZ.

I have not the right to compare HP with XYZ, I never ever after touched something else than HPs, but at school the price is an heavy argument. My decission as student was driven by 'RPN and programmable'. Last WE I talked with a Math teacher and understand now a bit his point of view. But when I scann the internet with this viewing angle I am very astonished that HP calcs seem to be not even a choice to think about - at least here in Germany. I had to learn that looking at Colin Croft's site only for Math education is a limited focus.

Ciao.....Mike


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