Possible death of calculators in education?

[SlideRule]

(05-19-2017 11:31 AM)EugeneNine Wrote:  ... the ones that didn't allow a calculator or limited you to a specific one were typically professors whose exams were simple memorization ... exams required understanding of the subject and your ability to think and resolve problems instead of just memorize formulas.

I'm slightly confused. Are you advocating for NO memorization, selective memorization, ...? I memorized my times tables (grade school) memorized basic geometry and algebra (high school) etc; these exertions were neither irrelevant nor a hindrance in attaining a B.S. in Physical Science and a B.S. in Civil Engineering (undergraduate). I occasionally encounter peers who can no longer solve and/or are clueless in attempting to solve algebraic/geometric problems with respect to say either the Pythagorean or the Binomial theorems. When queried, they generally respond with "I'll look it up in a reference manual, later": they seldom did! I have no frame of reference for your expression simple memorization, although I can reference memorize then purge (selective brain dump). This, however, was the STUDENT and not the INSTRUCTOR as the primary agent. So, what should I (as an instructor in TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS) do with respect to memorization? Your thoughts are welcome.

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