Subject: for the list
From: "W. Stephen Wilson" <wsw@math.jhu.edu>
Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:57:46 -0400

A recent ACT survey on calculator use in college
gave some results that I found sort of stunning,
in particular, from calculus teachers.

They, of course, made no distinction between
a one semester course in polynomial calculus 
for business majors and something required
of engineers.

I'd like to check their results just for the 
calculus courses for math, physics, and
engineering majors (not for soft sciences
like biology).

If you have taught such a calculus course
recently would you answer the following for
me and email to me at 

wsw@math.jhu.edu

Their questions of interest to me are:

In calculus courses for math, physics and 
engineering majors,

1. Is the use of calculators in the course:

required?

recommended?

optional?

not permitted?


2.  Which ONE of the following best describes the
use of calculators on exams in your course?

Always allowed for all parts of exams

Exams given in parts.  For one part, calculators
are allowed; for other parts, calculators are not
allowed.

Never allowed for any part of any exam.

Other.



Thanks,

Steve


W. Stephen Wilson                   (410) 516-7413
Department of Mathematics      FAX  (410) 516-5549
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD 21218               wsw@math.jhu.edu

http://www.math.jhu.edu/~wsw/