Well, I did a little reading in the manual (when I say little, I mean 15 minutes before I had to leave for class!) and I found what I needed to know for graphing functions. I found where it talked about the derivatives and I quickly learned what I should've known from classes I took in high school. Anyway, I learned how to put in the x-value of a point to find out if that point is on the graph (the first thing I need to know which tells me if I should proceed with the calculations or if I just have to say that the point isn't on the graph). Then I learned how to find the derivative using the "Calc" feature and made the conclusion that when I use that to find the derivative I also (without having to do all the computations) know what the slope of the tangent line is (if I have to find the slope of the tangent line at that point). I already knew how to input the function to get the graph, but these newfound insights will help me double check my work. It's been 5 years since I've been in a higher level math class, and I've found I don't remember it all. I wish now I would've taken Calculus as soon as I started college because I'd be way ahead of where I am now. But that's okay, I enjoyed my time before, the second time around has to be better right????
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
TI-84 Plus SE
I am pursuing an AYA Math License for grades 7-12 which means I'm enrolled in a couple undergrad math classes. Well after meeting with some professors to get myself on track and know where I'm heading, I find out my good 'ole TI-85 doesn't cut it anymore. It at least wasn't on the "Prohibited" list like the TI-89 is, but it's outdated, and after some searching on TI's website I found out the TI-85 is retired. So I'm stuck with keeping the TI-85 and possibly not having functions and programs I need or buying a new calculator.
Well, I am a woman, so I chose to go shopping! But I did my research first. I wanted to know what the difference was between the TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-84, TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, and the TI-86. Thankfully TI (which stands for Texas Instruments) has a useful website and they actually have a document that you can download that compares all of these calculators, plus a few others I wasn't interested in. I learned my TI-85 was replaced by the TI-86 and functioned similar to the 'ole TI-85. But when it came down to it all, the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition had more RAM, a faster processor, and more programs. What does all this mean to me?! I still don't know 100% yet, but I know more RAM provides more space for me to download things, add programs, store information; the faster processor means overall it performs quicker, and the more programs were just bonus for me to play around with, if I ever find the time.
My biggest decision was to decide between the TI-83 and the TI-84 because most schools use the TI-83, but with the TI-84 being new I had to wonder how quickly the TI-83's would be phased out for the newer TI-84's. That's another reason why I spent a little more and went for the TI-84.
Okay, so I have this handy-dandy brand spanking new calculator. The first difference (other than the color) I notice is the cover slides off in the opposite direction. (Okay, fine, not a big deal.) Next, the TI-84 doesn't have "Function" keys (yanno those 'F' keys at the top of your keyboard???) The TI-85 had 5 of those 'F' keys that made my life simpler. There isn't a custom menu that I can program my most frequently used functions either. This made it easy for me because I could put 15 different functions in this menu and have them all in reach with one button to scroll through the menu and my five function keys; instead of going into each separate menu and locating the function that way. But all in all, it's a new play toy! I'll get used to it! I haven't touched the TI-85 in quite a few years anyway, so I don't remember much of what it can do anyway!
Sad part is, I don't know how to use half of what the TI-84 is capable of. It came with a user manual, but it's only a small portion of the actual user manual which you need to download off TI's website. Also, I learned how to use my TI-85 in my high school math classes because everything was explained by the teacher and how to use the calculator (okay, mine was a little different since they used the TI-83's in class, but I still had step by step instructions, and once I found how to do it on the TI-85 it was a breeze). Well, now, I'm supposed to know how to do everything on my calculator; know how to find the slope of a tangent line at a specific point of a function, how to find the derivative using my calculator. Well, I know how to graph, so that's a plus, but I need to teach myself how to zoom in on the graph, and use the features above. So, there will be a part two to this rambling mess. If I learn nothing else, I need to learn how to use the derivative function on the calculator so I'll at least be able to use it in my class!!! Wish me luck!
Here are a couple links:
TI's Website (this is Texas Instrument's main website for everything they have) http://www.ti.com/
TI Education Website http://education.ti.com/educationportal/
TI-84 Plus Silver Edition http://www.84silver.com/
Well, I am a woman, so I chose to go shopping! But I did my research first. I wanted to know what the difference was between the TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-84, TI-84 Plus, TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, and the TI-86. Thankfully TI (which stands for Texas Instruments) has a useful website and they actually have a document that you can download that compares all of these calculators, plus a few others I wasn't interested in. I learned my TI-85 was replaced by the TI-86 and functioned similar to the 'ole TI-85. But when it came down to it all, the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition had more RAM, a faster processor, and more programs. What does all this mean to me?! I still don't know 100% yet, but I know more RAM provides more space for me to download things, add programs, store information; the faster processor means overall it performs quicker, and the more programs were just bonus for me to play around with, if I ever find the time.
My biggest decision was to decide between the TI-83 and the TI-84 because most schools use the TI-83, but with the TI-84 being new I had to wonder how quickly the TI-83's would be phased out for the newer TI-84's. That's another reason why I spent a little more and went for the TI-84.
Okay, so I have this handy-dandy brand spanking new calculator. The first difference (other than the color) I notice is the cover slides off in the opposite direction. (Okay, fine, not a big deal.) Next, the TI-84 doesn't have "Function" keys (yanno those 'F' keys at the top of your keyboard???) The TI-85 had 5 of those 'F' keys that made my life simpler. There isn't a custom menu that I can program my most frequently used functions either. This made it easy for me because I could put 15 different functions in this menu and have them all in reach with one button to scroll through the menu and my five function keys; instead of going into each separate menu and locating the function that way. But all in all, it's a new play toy! I'll get used to it! I haven't touched the TI-85 in quite a few years anyway, so I don't remember much of what it can do anyway!
Sad part is, I don't know how to use half of what the TI-84 is capable of. It came with a user manual, but it's only a small portion of the actual user manual which you need to download off TI's website. Also, I learned how to use my TI-85 in my high school math classes because everything was explained by the teacher and how to use the calculator (okay, mine was a little different since they used the TI-83's in class, but I still had step by step instructions, and once I found how to do it on the TI-85 it was a breeze). Well, now, I'm supposed to know how to do everything on my calculator; know how to find the slope of a tangent line at a specific point of a function, how to find the derivative using my calculator. Well, I know how to graph, so that's a plus, but I need to teach myself how to zoom in on the graph, and use the features above. So, there will be a part two to this rambling mess. If I learn nothing else, I need to learn how to use the derivative function on the calculator so I'll at least be able to use it in my class!!! Wish me luck!
Here are a couple links:
TI's Website (this is Texas Instrument's main website for everything they have) http://www.ti.com/
TI Education Website http://education.ti.com/educationportal/
TI-84 Plus Silver Edition http://www.84silver.com/
Monday, September 13, 2004
Text to Audio
Since I work in the Office of Disability Services at UF, I have been doing some research for my boss on assistive technology for the students who use ODS. One of these technologies happened to be a program called "Text to Audio" and it is put out by Premier Assistive Technology (you can visit their website at http://www.premier-programming.com/home.htm). My job was to look into the program, see if it would work for us, and find a price (which was pretty easy since they actually have it listed on the site!!!). ODS orders books on tape for students who have difficulty reading and need the auditory support, so my job was to see if this particular program would work if we scanned in the textbook and used the program to read back to the student.
In the end, it doesn't work that way. This program takes Word documents (it also can read HTML, Rich Text and Standard ASCII file formats) and "learns" the text and then it reads the document to you. The program actually creates a WAV or MP3 file of the document. This program also includes software to burn CDs so another program is not needed. This makes it a little easier. And since it can put the documents on a CD, you can tell it to make each document a separate track (just like how music CDs have a different track for each song). The other big "feature" this program boasts is that you can actually bookmark sections you want. So if you're reading through the actual textbook and wanted to highlight a definition, you could theoretically do this on the CD using a bookmark. Plain and simple, the bookmark is just another track on the CD. But if you know that the definition for "technology" is in Chapter 5 and the track for the definition is #12, then you could simply skip to track 12 to hear the definition of technology.
There are a couple "How to use" videos on the website, which give excellent explanations on how to use the program. The program itself is simple to use, it takes approximately five minutes or so to convert a Word document to a WAV file, but that also depends on the size of the document. The program also has different voices to choose from. And you also have the option to change the speed and pitch of the voices as well.
In the end, it doesn't work that way. This program takes Word documents (it also can read HTML, Rich Text and Standard ASCII file formats) and "learns" the text and then it reads the document to you. The program actually creates a WAV or MP3 file of the document. This program also includes software to burn CDs so another program is not needed. This makes it a little easier. And since it can put the documents on a CD, you can tell it to make each document a separate track (just like how music CDs have a different track for each song). The other big "feature" this program boasts is that you can actually bookmark sections you want. So if you're reading through the actual textbook and wanted to highlight a definition, you could theoretically do this on the CD using a bookmark. Plain and simple, the bookmark is just another track on the CD. But if you know that the definition for "technology" is in Chapter 5 and the track for the definition is #12, then you could simply skip to track 12 to hear the definition of technology.
There are a couple "How to use" videos on the website, which give excellent explanations on how to use the program. The program itself is simple to use, it takes approximately five minutes or so to convert a Word document to a WAV file, but that also depends on the size of the document. The program also has different voices to choose from. And you also have the option to change the speed and pitch of the voices as well.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
My First Blog
Well, this is new to me since I have never heard of a blog before. It is pretty cool; an online journal is so much better than having to sit down and write in a paper one because I can always find time to be at the computer, but I hardly have time for myself to sit and read a newspaper! I seem to always be the last one to find out about new stuff, so maybe this whole concept will keep me on top of things and instead of being the last to know, I'll be the one to initiate new things!!! I like learning about new things, and I want to be able to share all of this stuff with others.
PEACE =oÞ
PEACE =oÞ
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