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War on Calculators
10-08-2015, 02:54 PM
Post: #8
RE: War on Calculators
There are some serious practical concerns. First, remember that that "free" app requires a cell phone that costs $50/month. What if some kids can't afford it? Now I realize that nearly everyone older than 11 has a smartphone today, but still.

Second, most schools forbid the use of cell phones by students. They are simply too distracting. So the alternative is what? Tablets in the classroom? Now the "free" app requires the district to buy a tablet. And a charging station. And train the tech people to support them.

Third, in a classroom environment, it's absolutely 100% essential that the tools work every time for every student. In a 40 or 50 minute class, the teacher can't afford to spend even 5 minutes with the kid whose app took a crap, or whose tablet ran out of power, or has a cracked screen because the last kid sat on it.

So it's true that an app is a whole lot better than a calculator but the infratructure needed for it not trivial. We will definitely get there soon though.

To me, the article looked like an ad for Desmos. Maybe the "special advertisement" disclaimer got truncated from the online version Smile
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Messages In This Thread
War on Calculators - Howard Owen - 10-06-2015, 10:09 PM
Refer to the other thread - striegel - 10-07-2015, 12:41 AM
RE: War on Calculators - Dwight Sturrock - 10-07-2015, 02:35 AM
RE: War on Calculators - DMaier - 10-07-2015, 02:37 AM
RE: War on Calculators - CR Haeger - 10-07-2015, 03:32 PM
RE: War on Calculators - Gerald H - 10-07-2015, 06:49 AM
RE: War on Calculators - JimP - 10-07-2015, 11:08 PM
RE: War on Calculators - David Hayden - 10-08-2015 02:54 PM
RE: War on Calculators - Eric Rechlin - 10-08-2015, 04:04 PM
RE: War on Calculators - Katie Wasserman - 10-08-2015, 04:53 PM
RE: War on Calculators - Han - 10-08-2015, 05:27 PM
RE: War on Calculators - erniebro - 07-25-2016, 10:25 PM
RE: War on Calculators - JimP - 07-26-2016, 07:53 AM
RE: War on Calculators - Ron Ross - 07-26-2016, 12:37 PM
RE: War on Calculators - Toby - 07-26-2016, 04:07 PM
RE: War on Calculators - EdS2 - 07-27-2016, 05:59 AM



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