From: fv@LINK.Physchem.KTH.SE (Fredrik Viklund)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
Subject: Re: Re: Security devices for exams (was something else...)
Date: 16 Apr 92 21:57:52 GMT
Article-I.D.: kth.1992Apr16.215752.19458
Reply-To: fv@LINK.Physchem.KTH.SE
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

In article <1992Apr16.115745.21081@doug.cae.wisc.edu>, ljung@cae.wisc.edu (David Ljung) writes:
>In article <1992Apr15.201209.1@hmcvax.claremont.edu> elsalmon@hmcvax.claremont.edu writes:
>	[really angry ravings about what someone else said]
>>Somebody ought to show all your professors where your calculator's hardware
>>reset button is.  You deserve it.
>
>Uh, excuse me.
>
>It seems that may of you consider it ok to have professors just
>clear memory on our calculators for exams.
>
>Well, I don't know about you, but I keep a lot of stuff on my
>48 that has nothing to do with that class that I would prefer
>not to lose.  Yes, I usually keep most of it backed up on my
>computer, but what about those of use who don't have access to
>a computer or the cables.  Also, I used to have a 28, where
>the only input was via keyboard.  One of my profs decided to
>take the batteries out - I would have lost a good 30 or 40
>hours of work on some projects I had on there if he didn't
>realize that the batteries needed to be left out for a few
>minutes  :)
>
>Anyways - it seems to me that that is not a solution.
>Basically, if profs are going to allow the 48, they
>should realize that there is nothing they can do to
>stop students from keeping equations on there.
>Arguably, it shouldn't matter, since the real
>world isn't closed-book, closed-notes.  
>
>It seems to me that the best solution is to
>allow an equation sheet.  Besides, using the
>48 to remember equations for you doesn't seem
>to be as big an advantage to me as just plain
>USING the thing.  I can't count the number of
>times that having that much power on an exam
>has helped me out.  Does that mean I didn't
>need to understand the material?  I think not...
>
>
>Enjoy,
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>David Ljung                    314 N. Broom St. #3A
>Spawning Cow! Productions      Madison, WI. 53703             ljung@cae.wisc.edu
>                               (608) 257-COWS         ljung@garfield.cs.wisc.edu
>-----------= This line closed due to copyright infringement laws =--------------

In our exams you accept some conditions by attending the exam. They are 
written on the back of the exam papers. Of course we have separate 
"rules" to follow for each class.

In our math classes for example, NO calculator is allowed. And there is 
no need really. The only need for it, would be to check the numerical 
values.

BUT (and it is a very important BUT) it is allowed in the chemistry 
exams. To calculate with (that's where the name calculator has its 
origin you know...)!

Since my professor would be sad if he knew that I had copied some 
100 K of my textbook into my calculator, (e.g. the periodic table (that 
we are supposed to know in some exams) or a database of solved examples 
from other exams from the same prof...)

I (by attending the exam) agree to have no data in my calc that relates 
to the class. In fact, it should be completely blank!

Of course they never check it out, but if they cought (that's supposed 
to be catch in past tense...) me, they may not let me continue my 
studies at KTH! 

A lot of people say: "If I can use my calc to solve the problems, why 
shouldn't I be allowed to?"

I say "Okay, I'll give you a real calculator, a Casio fx-180. Use that 
in stead of your HP!"

Those of you who say "Okay. Give me the test!" are OK, but the ones that 
reply "Never, I am to attached to the storing capacity of my HP" I 
wouldn't even give the exam!

(No offense to David, and to you all: I apologize for my poor english, 
but it's my best...)

	/Fredrik


+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Fredrik Viklund       To be or not to be,             |
| FV@Chemstud.kth.se    Thats true.   /Boole            |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
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