There are still some places left on this workshop.  I have had the comment that 
the subtitle advertised earlier may be putting some people off. Sorry about this - 
the purpose of the workshop is to encourage the responsible use of hand-held 
technology, and to challenge negative attitudes towards calculators.   

Full details are at http://www.bham.ac.uk/ctimath/workshops/w-hand.htm

Taking advantage of hand-held technology 
------------------------------------------------

CTI Mathematics Day Workshop 
Thursday 22 October 1998  
University of Birmingham 

The TI-89 with Advanced Mathematics Software is a portable symbolic,
numeric, and graphing solution for advanced mathematics and engineering
coursework.  It will soon be on sale in the UK and students will be buying
it to solve many of their coursework  problems.  The computer algebra
system built into the TI-89 will evaluate mathematical expressions
symbolically or numerically, and can be electronically upgraded using
Flash technology to download the latest software.  It allows the user to:


- compute exact symbolic solutions to many 1st- and 2nd-order 
   ordinary differential equations  
- find eigenvalues, eigenvectors, functions of matrices (like e A ), 
  and LU or QR decompositions
- solve systems of linear and nonlinear equations and display the results
   in general or matrix formats
- solve single or systems of differential equations using Euler or Runga
   Kutta methods, and graph slope or direction fields
- visualize in 3D via real-time rotation of 3D surfaces and contour graphs
- carry out 2D graphing, data analysis and statistical regressions

University teachers cannot afford to ignore the power of such tools, which
can replace skills looked for in the past but not the understanding that
those skills brought.  This workshop will investigate benefits and
drawbacks to their use by students in and out of the classroom, the effect
they will have on assessment and the way they can be integrated into
courses.  

Programme
------------- 

10.30  Tea/coffee and registration 

11.00  Harry Gretton, Sheffield Hallam University : the evolution to the TI-89

11.10  Implementing technological approaches: case studies from Sheffield 
            Hallam and Napier Universities

12.00  Getting a grip on the TI-89: hands-on workshop

13.00  Lunch

14.00  Neil Challis, Sheffield Hallam University:  “All calculators should
            be banned!”(?)

14.20  Discussion: the implications of the TI-89 and other hand-held technology
               - using it in the classroom
               - students using it outside the classroom
               - its impact on assessment
               - its impact on curriculum

15.30          Tea/coffee and closing discussion

The day will take place in the Conference Room in the School of Education,
University of Birmingham.  There is a nominal charge of £30 including a
buffet lunch.  Places are limited and priority will be given to those who
book first.  Bookings can be made online at 

   http://www.bham.ac.uk/ctimath/workshops/f-hand.htm

Telephone and email bookings can also be taken.  Please confirm by post
with payment in  advance - cheques payable to the University of
Birmingham.  Maps are available on request; the University station is two
stops from Birmingham New Street on the cross- city line.



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