07-26-2009, 08:37 PM
I never had a "cheat" sheet option for tests. You knew it or you didn't. But that was more than 35 years ago.
And there were no calculators. Later, there were slide rules.
Life may be an open book tests, but there are though processes that should be developed long before one tries to look up the right formula.
Some advanced math classes allow calculators, and I hear even some lesser jr and high schools do as well. The former, I can understand, I think. But with the latter two, without understanding *how* to solve for Whatever, how can they even pick the right formula?
I think a lot more rote work should be required given the poor performance of a lot of kids these days.
Just a for instance... cash registers at fast food and many other establishments that calculate the change required from payment tendered. I almost never see anybody "count back" the change. Without that feature, I wonder how many employees, particularly younger ones could make proper change.
But since today's world is an open book test, I guess that kind of ability is useless.
And there were no calculators. Later, there were slide rules.
Life may be an open book tests, but there are though processes that should be developed long before one tries to look up the right formula.
Some advanced math classes allow calculators, and I hear even some lesser jr and high schools do as well. The former, I can understand, I think. But with the latter two, without understanding *how* to solve for Whatever, how can they even pick the right formula?
I think a lot more rote work should be required given the poor performance of a lot of kids these days.
Just a for instance... cash registers at fast food and many other establishments that calculate the change required from payment tendered. I almost never see anybody "count back" the change. Without that feature, I wonder how many employees, particularly younger ones could make proper change.
But since today's world is an open book test, I guess that kind of ability is useless.