Good parts of yesterday

[magid]

• Yesterday afternoon I got to play with a TI-83+ silver edition calculator. Wow. Much more capability than the other graphing calculators I've used, since instead of 10 slots of memory in the regular TI 83+ (no clue how this compares to actual computer memory), it has 94. Which means that you can have bunches of extra modules stored in there, which is what we were playing with yesterday.
  
  There's a Cabri Jr. feature, so all sorts of geometry software, and things from the algebra side, exploring how changing different constants affects the graph (of any sort of curve; very cool), including being able to animate the changes within a given range. Another module makes graphing inequalities much easier, and distinguishes between strict and not-so-strict inequalities, plus you can choose whether to shade just the solution region for however many inequalities. It can also deal with vertical lines, which aren't functions.
  
  We also played a lot with the probability simulation module, which had some fun graphics (the 20-sided die looked like a mutant ninja head to me...). In the dice section, you could choose how many sides, and could weigh those outcomes however you wished, too. Outcomes could be shown as a bar graph distribution. There were also spinners to be spun, coins to be flipped, cards to be chosen (choosing 1-3 decks, 52 or 32 cards in a deck, with or without replacement :-). Everyone was having fun playing with these...
  
  There were a bunch of other modules, too, some of which were less interesting/useful for me. The periodic table, for instance (though I could see that science students would find it useful). They have modules that change the language of the computer to German, French, or Spanish. Another allows you to make study cards, flip cards, with whatever you'd like on them (including art, though the screen is pretty pixellated, so nothing large/fancy). One lets the teacher give kids questions, and at the end their answers can be transmitted back (not only multiple choice, but short response, too), and the teacher has an application that lets per make a slide show with all the answers (names automatically not included). Yet another module lets you use the calculator as a PDA, with a calendar function and all... Just need to add Web browsing, a cell phone, and a digital camera, and it would be the perfect tool :-). (Well, just that and a Leatherman.)
  
• I bought some new clothes. I was actually in the mood to shop for clothes, and did. Strange confluence of events, since I usually hate it.
  
• I had a bite of some very yummy steak. It can't be that the last time I had steak was at a wedding over a decade ago, but that's all that comes to mind. I think I shall splurge in the near future...

Comments

[gingicat]

Incidentally, one of our math teachers informs me that the Academy students are already well-acquainted with the dice-rolling program, so I don't have to tell them about it. :)

It was good to see you last night. Sunday, I'm thinking of driving to garden shops and picking up tomato plants and maybe a zucchini plant; would you be interested in roaming about with me?

[gingicat]

PS. Found the apps page on the TI site. :) http://education.ti.com/us/product/apps/features.html

[magid.livejournal.com]

It was good to see you last night, too (I was thinking of editing my post to add having the chance to talk with people I don't see in person much; I was/am tired enough that things are not flowing quite as I'd like today. Tonight I must get sleep....).

Sunday depends on your timing; in the afternoon I've got plans already.
Oh, if it's useful: when I was last at Mahoney's they had a nice selection of tomatoes; I don't remember seeing zukes, but I wasn't looking either.

Glad to hear that technology is being appreciated at your school. :-)

[gingicat]

Hmmm. Sunday probably early-ish, but I'll have to find out when the various places open.