another feature that would be quite handy...

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Nelson Sousa

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Nov 27, 2009, 7:20:30 PM11/27/09
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Having a "huge" screen size on emulator view of the Teacher Edition
software would be great. Even with 22" monitor I find it hard to align
perfectly some objects, especially text (and I try to get everything
pixel perfect...)

Nelson


PS: I forgot what's the number of the last requested feature, I just
can't keep track.

acucci

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Dec 2, 2009, 6:54:20 PM12/2/09
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So would spell check!

Joe

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Dec 3, 2009, 4:35:57 AM12/3/09
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I second that. Having the ability to store and process text without a
spell check capability is archaic technology. I strikes me in the
same way as graphing without 3d capability. It's very dated
technology from a previous era. On the other hand, it really doesn't
effect me because I store notes and comments using microsoft word on
my next generation calculator (a netbook with 3 cas's.) Of course
that kind of power is not allowed for some tests but if I were a
student I'd use my clunky old TI-84 for those tests.
> > can't keep track.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Nelson Sousa

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Dec 3, 2009, 6:29:20 AM12/3/09
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and it's about the 30th time Joe brings up the 3D thing. I think it
calls for some sort of celebration!!! And perhaps the 10th time he
speaks about his "next generation netbook". We all know by now you
have a new netbook and you're quite happy with it. But I wouldn't go
so far as calling it "next generation". By the time you bought it, it
was already obsolete and it was "last generation". computers evolve
just too fast to allow for anything to be "next generation" for more
than a week or so.

Joe: repeating the same arguments over and over again won't make
things go any faster. Asking for an update, bug fix or new feature is
like calling the elevator. Keep pressing the button doesn't speed
things up.


Nelson

Joe

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Dec 3, 2009, 12:31:52 PM12/3/09
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HI Nelson,
Thank you for noticeing. Thats because I feel those issues are that
important. To bring up an issue once and then drop the matter means
that it really wasn't important. I like using nspire cas software for
windows on my hand held computer because there is virtually no
learning curve for someone who has used previous TI calculators,
however I fear that if TI doesn't get going, and upgrade to what can
be done (as opposed to what might barely be good enough) they will be
forced out of the business by future competition. The fact of the
matter is that Math technology has passed TI's decade plus cas
technology by, and their very apparent lack of willingness to spend
the money to make significant upgrades shows a lack of committment to
that business which I find very troubling. Take a second look at that
long (and getting longer) list of improvements that people want. It
speaks volumes about the short comings of that design. Furthermore,
at the rate that improvements are being made and considering the total
lack of significant improvements such as 3d graphing or imput
programing statements or spell check, etc., that design is virtually
static but let me leave you with two thoughts. First of all, the
sqeeky wheel gets the grease, and secondly (and just as importantly)
we live in a 3d world. Thank you for expressing the interest I
appreciate it.
> >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

Joe

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Dec 3, 2009, 7:27:04 PM12/3/09
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Hi Nelson, I must apologise, I was in a hurry this morning and didn't
read your post carefully enough. You speak of my "next generation
netbook" as not being next generation because of computers evolving so
quickly. True however you seem to have missed the point. I was
speaking of a "next generation calculator," not a "next generation
computer." Because netbooks are so popular and because math software
has come down in price significantly, there is no reason to have a
single purpose handheld calculator with a small B&W screen, lack of
lack of multiple software capability, etc., etc., when the highly
portable multipurpose netbook with multiple math programs along with
other things such as a modern word processor, lots of storage
capability, along with plug in storage, etc., is eons better. In fact
it is so much better, that a netbook with math programs such as
Mathematica, Maple, Spacetime, nspire windows software, etc., is
really a next generation calculator.

On Dec 3, 3:29 am, Nelson Sousa <nso...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

Nelson Sousa

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Dec 3, 2009, 9:08:15 PM12/3/09
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and that brings us back the the same old argument: you speak of the
advantages of the netbooks, I speak of the unlimited access to
information that makes them unusable in testing for at least a few
years and we'd just keep repeating old arguments,

but you're right, I misread your post (I too was in a hurry).

Cheers,
Nelson

Joe

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Dec 4, 2009, 3:32:26 PM12/4/09
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Actually I agree with you Nelson, in that computers are unusable for
(some) testing for at least a few years. This is because there are
breauocrats on the national and state level in some countries (the
U.S. included) who declare that they will allow the student to use
math technology on their tests, but only the second rate technology
that they choose. The question Nelson is, are we going to allow the
decisions of these petty dictators, who determine what equipment can
and can not be used for a couple of hours out of the entire year, to
spill over into our students (and our) daily lives the rest of the
year? Actually, the immediate solution to this problem is already in
use. There are plenty of ti-83 and 84 calculators available through
schools as loaners for use on the annual government tests, and that
frees schools to upgrade to the best available technology for daily
use, and avoid the inferior technology that the testing breauocrats
dictate. So there really is no good reason to use clunky unipurpose
B&W hand helds when there are better options.

Although I advocate teaching math as opposed to calculator operation
(which students can pick up on their own), I admit that exposure to
technology can be an important part of a good education, however it
must be exposure to up to date technology and not some clunker devices
that havn't kept pace with technological change. We should not be
using devices that students will never see in the work place.

As for class room tests and the potential for cheating if computers
are allowed, gimmics like "push to test" do not eliminate cheating,
and are not an adequate substitute for the teacher who circulates
around the room and makes himself or herself aware of what the student
is doing and how. So it really doesn't matter what technology is
used. It is up to the teacher to prevent cheating by knowing what is
going on in his or her classroom.

Rex Boggs

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Dec 4, 2009, 3:50:46 PM12/4/09
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A reminder.

From the inspire website: "The TI-Nspire group is a forum for teachers who are interested in using
the TI-Nspire calculator in the Mathematics or Science classroom to improve learning outcomes. It
is a forum for sharing TI-Nspire documents, and for sharing our knowledge about this impressive
technology."

Some recent posts have sent the strong message that the sender is NOT "....interested in using the
TI-Nspire calculator in the Mathematics or Science classroom to improve learning outcomes."

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, but this forum is not the place to to air such
views. It is easy-peasy to create a googlegroup, so if someone wants to discuss the supposed
shortcomings of the TI-Nspire calculator, I suggest that they create their own googlegroup for that
purpose.

Cheers

Rex Boggs
tinspire list moderator


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