ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Actually I have a stronger opinion on the use of slide rules. I feel that
the use of slide rules should be taught in schools prior to any use of
calculators or spreadsheets.
The reason is that the use of a slide rule demands that the user understands
the mechanics of how they work and how the numbers relate to each other to
produce the result. It forces the user to do a sanity-check on the answer.
The slide rule has the immediate effect with a new user to show a practical
application on the use of the rule to add exponents (or logarithms) to
produce a product.
Calculators and spreadsheets do nothing like that. They simply produce the
answer and the user accepts whatever is displayed without any concern as to
whether the displayed number makes any sense. The only thing the user needs
to know is what button or formula to use.
This is not to discourage the use of calculators and spreadsheets. There is
no question that their use substantially allows the student to cover much
more material in the same time since the student is not spending substantial
amounts of time grinding out the answer. This is just an argument that the
use of slide rules should not be ignored in a math curriculum.
Jack Cannon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Sobey" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: Changes in technology
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Nina-
The slide rule would be a great hands-on activity. Most people haven't
touched a slide rule or used one. Seeing how it operates is a nice lesson in
logs as well as a lesson in how technology has changed.
Ed
Ed Sobey, Ph.D.
Global Evangelist* for Creative Learning
Northwest Invention Center
(206) 240-1516
www.invention-center.com
www.nrg-exhibits.com
www.kidsinvent.com
* a zealous enthusiast
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nina Nolan
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 9:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Changes in technology
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*
Hi All,
I am thinking about creating a cart interpretation related to the 40th
anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing. Basically, I want to give
visitors an appreciation for how hard it was to get a man on the moon,
especially given the available technology. Unfortunately, I am one of
those people who were born after the Apollo program ended, and don't
have direct experience of this amazing accomplishment in human history.
One of my favorites scenes from the movie Apollo 13 is when the
engineers have to calculate the return trajectory, and they all whip out
slide rules! It blows my mind to realize that we sent people 240,000
miles away but didn't have the computing power to figure out sines and
cosines!
One idea I have is to have examples of everyday items from 1969 and
compare them to what's available today. It should be fun to see the
differences between telephones, cameras and portable music players.
I would love to hear others' input on what might work as a cart
interpretation and what other interpretations/activities people are
doing around this anniversary.
Thanks in advance!
Nina
--
Nina Nolan
Coordinator of Exhibit Hall Interpretation
Museum of Science
Science Park
Boston MA 02114-1099
(617) 589-0356 (ph)
(617) 589-0389 (fax)
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