Guest obee Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Our daughter just came home from school with a form that needs to be filled out by us, so she can order a new calculator for year 11 = next year. The clincher is it's $185-00. No detail except its supplied by a certain company and it must be a Texas Instrument. We are supposed to simply sign, hand over the money and said calculator will arrive early next year. I asked if there was any other detail on the model etc, so I could check the net and see if I could get it a little cheaper. Man you'd think I told her she couldn't have lunch for the next 3 weeks. I don't know about anybody else, but $185 is not to be sneezed at in our house, unless of course you're the one wanting it NOW
FMB Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Our daughter just came home from school with a form that needs to be filled out by us, so she can order a new calculator for year 11 = next year.The clincher is it's $185-00. No detail except its supplied by a certain company and it must be a Texas Instrument. We are supposed to simply sign, hand over the money and said calculator will arrive early next year. I asked if there was any other detail on the model etc, so I could check the net and see if I could get it a little cheaper. Man you'd think I told her she couldn't have lunch for the next 3 weeks. I don't know about anybody else, but $185 is not to be sneezed at in our house, unless of course you're the one wanting it NOW You need to contact the school and ask them for the model number of the calculator they want you to buy. If they won't tell you, tell them you need to know what functionality is required of a scientific calculator for year 11. Pretty much any decent scientific calculator will do the job and you should be able to pick one up for a lot less than $185. The school should not force you to buy one from them. Stand your ground! (says he who's kids have all left school and has nothing to lose)
the_wonderchild Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) Yes, i'm quite familiar with this myself and fell 'victim' so to speak, of the shenanigans (spelling?) that were going on. A couple years ago i needed one for my VCE (Year 11/12 in Victoria). Were were given a similar form to choose to purchase through the school and their distributor, or told we could purchase elsewhere. The real doozy, however, was that at the time they listed VCE mandates only allowed certain models (Texas Instruments, Casio, etc.). So, i went out to Officeworks, etc. for one of the models listed, and purchased it (wasn't much cheaper than you mentioned). Then, i bring it to school a few weeks later and several students have got the 'better, more advanced' model that is actually the same price, but was actually listed as not allowed. Then came exams, and they were freely able to use their calculators, so i felt like an idiot for purchasing the inferior model at the time when they both costed the same. phew...rant over. Anyways, best to look for them second-hand because they pop up quite often from people like myself (i already moved mine on, sorry, and sold it for ~$60, so it's a definite step in the right direction to go second-hand). Anything else, feel free to ask and i'll see if i remember. Edited November 18, 2008 by AK Anthony
DrP Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 $185 bucks is a hell of a lot for a year 11 calc esp considering the school would be getting it as a group purchase (ie a discount). Is it a programmable job or just a calc loaded with sci functions?
the_wonderchild Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 I think this is in reference to a graphics calculator by the way. Would be astounded if otherwise, because the graphics ones are the ones used for programming, calculus, etc. and essential for Year 11/12 math/science work.
Guest obee Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 I don't know any of the details yet. I'm still trying to convince the daughter I'm not jsu a tight wod for not wanting to pay any more than I have to. I also agree for that amount of money I could probably get one with ALL the bells and whistles, if only I knew what the model is I'm supposed to be buying. I'll try and prise the info out of the school.
the_wonderchild Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) As of 2006, the Texas Instruments calculator's recommended were the TI-83 plus and TI-84 plus. I'm assuming you're not in Victoria, so i'm not sure if the above applies, but it'd be a good starting point. Having been a couple years since then, but looking at their site ( http://education.ti.com/educationportal/si...s_graphing.html ) i think these are the most recent ones that would be suitable from them. As previously stated though, you can look at the likes of Casio, etc. but they might have slightly different ways of doing certain functions, hence your daughter could be at a slight disadvantage with regards to if soemthing is taught with specific reference to the TI's. Edited November 18, 2008 by AK Anthony
mcduck Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) baby and her older brother used the same sorts all through high shool in multiples, they kept getting stolen and baby starts year 12 next year Casio fx-82MS or Sharp EL-531WH any brand is usually ok as long as they're scientific edit can be picked up for around the $25 mark edit baby says well seeing as it's $185 i'd say it's a graphics calculator they're asking for...if not well they're trying to rip u off big time ' and my school we dont really need graphics calculators and if u want one they have a hire scheme - pay $50 to borrow it for the year and if at the end of the year u return it safe and sound well you get ur money back yeah.... yeah i survived all through with normal scientific... everything that can be done by a graphics can just as easily be done by hand doing sums and drawing graphs.. K Edited November 18, 2008 by mcduck
Guest obee Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Thanks AK. I don't reckon I'll survive if I don't get her the exact one they're specifying. I'm getting enough grief as it is just mentioning the fact I'm looking around. What is it with kids now days and their hollier than thou attitudes. I would have been lucky to have any calculator when I was at school let alone one that should also be able to make coffee and wash the car.
DrP Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Grade 3s use calcs these days IIRC. ...... What on earth they need it for is beyond me.
Guest obee Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Maybe they need them young so they can calculate how much their parents need to spend to keep them happy
DrP Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 ... and my school we dont really need graphics calculators and if u want one they have a hire scheme ... I thought the abacus had just come out when you were in school.
SDL Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Ah the good old days when I did VCE, or HSC as it was then. My old man knew the CEO of Sharp or Sony or some such company that made one of the first Programmable Computer style calculators. Could program them on their Qwerty keyboard in Basic. The school knew nothing about such things so I supplied half a dozen of my mates with these calculators that were $300 at the time - a huge sum, I got them for $50 each. So easy to have all the formulas programmed in those days. Ah life was simple.
mcduck Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 I thought the abacus had just come out when you were in school. hey that was baby posting she dictates too fast
DrP Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 So easy to have all the formulas programmed in those days. Ah life was simple. TBH thats why I think programmables shouldn't be allowed in senior math. Having to think how the formula goes is part of learning it. If its just a case reading it out of a book and typing it in that teaches nothing... apart from how to operate a programmable calculator.
the_wonderchild Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 TBH thats why I think programmables shouldn't be allowed in senior math. Having to think how the formula goes is part of learning it. If its just a case reading it out of a book and typing it in that teaches nothing... apart from how to operate a programmable calculator. Mmhh....best i don't tell you then that there are programmes now that put the formula in for you....makes things even more easier and lazier to boot. You only have to type in 'a= x, b= y and c= z'...and bob's your uncle.
drsmith Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) The Casio fx-82 scientific calaulator was the one I used at uni and that was for a maths/science degree. Cost was not that much (around $20-$30) and was purchased in a shop. While that was in the mid-late 80's I can't imagine that the cost of today's equivelent would have balloned to $180. http://www.voidware.com/calcs/fx82.htm Mine was the top model. It still goes. Edited November 18, 2008 by drsmith
Guest obee Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 I don't understand how the cost could be so high either. And I agree with DrP that knowing how something works is the way to learn how to do it properly. Having said that though, our daughter has been nominated for a scholarship at Melbourne Uni, based in part on her math ability, so who knows what the calculator can do. I do like the idea of renting them, but I suppose if she does go on to do some form of higher ed that involves maths, she may still need the rolls royce of calculators.
drsmith Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) No detail except its supplied by a certain company and it must be a Texas Instrument. http://education.ti.com/educationportal/si...scientific.html You can get these from retail stores such as Dick Smith, Officeworks etc. They have a bigger range of scientific calculators on their US/Canada site. Prices around $US20. Edited November 18, 2008 by drsmith
SDL Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 TBH thats why I think programmables shouldn't be allowed in senior math. Having to think how the formula goes is part of learning it. If its just a case reading it out of a book and typing it in that teaches nothing... apart from how to operate a programmable calculator. Don't worry, nothing I have ever designed has fallen down so I must of picked up something. Oh and the medal I got presented on my trip to the ACT for topping the Westpac mathematics awards would probably go a long way to reassuring you I wasn't too bad at maths and learnt a little It was just a good use of resources, something that prepares you for the real world.
the_wonderchild Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Yeh, this all comes down to whether in fact the calculator is a scientific or graphic one. There is a vast, comprehensive difference between the two (with the latter being the one for displaying graphs, equations, calculus, differentiation and integration, etc.....in other words, the high end of the school maths spectrum). Unlike the scientific ones which have a couple or so lines for fractions and numbers, the graphic ones have a roughly 0.75-1 inch screen that you can track back and see all your workings, draw the graphs by entering equations, etc. Speaking from recent personal experience, the way the education system for maths and such is these days, there is an emphasis for speed (an unjust proportion, imo), hence using the calculators to do all the work for you in a quick method that involves little calculation time. The $185 price-tag you gave is fitting for the 'retail' price of graphic calculators, but by no means a scientific one. Melbourne Uni scholarship sounds impressive. The course i study there i don't really require a graphics calculator, so i passed it on in favour of the basic scientific Casio fx-100s.
Guest obee Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 I believe it is a grahics calculator........blurb below - I think, although the CAS is not mentioned in the school info. Yes the scholarship could be impressive. It's basically a lead in to the uni and gives unlimited access to the library, mentoring, networking, plus a financial benefit. The new TI-Nspire™ CAS Maths and Science Learning Technology is designed to meet the needs of different learning styles. It is available as a handheld device as well as software for PC and Mac. Content and lessons for mathematics and science topics can be visualized on screen in ways that work best for the individual students. Formulae, tables and visual representations of a problem can be viewed in one window at a time or all at once, all on the same screen. Through a feature called dynamic linking, changes to a variable in one window will automatically update the other representations of the problem.The TI-Nspire™ CAS Handheld and Software Solutions are easy to use: Buttons and on-screen drop-down menus and navigation icons are simple to operate and understand.Features are clearly structured, focusing on each function in use.Seamless creation and transition of classroom materials from handheld devices to PC/Mac and vice versa is possible
FMB Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 I don't know any of the details yet. I'm still trying to convince the daughter I'm not jsu a tight wod for not wanting to pay any more than I have to.I also agree for that amount of money I could probably get one with ALL the bells and whistles, if only I knew what the model is I'm supposed to be buying. I'll try and prise the info out of the school. It sounds like you have been presented with a perfect opportunity to impart an important life lesson to your daughter. Shop around. Don't assume that what you're being offered is the best and only deal available. This is one of the fundamental principles of this forum. Consider the wisdom of the members as a gift for your daughter that will serve her well through life. Oh yeah...and don't forget that you're the parent and the one with the money.
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