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With a platform that’s been around as long as the TI-84, which is in and of itself the evolution of the TI-83 (launched in 1996), we’re bound to see models come and go. On Texas Instruments’ official website, I’ve noticed that certain models related to the TI-84 Plus were no longer featured. It also appears that some are starting to become less plentiful for purchase online. I hadn’t noticed anything about this officially announced, so when I spoke with Dale Philbrick, Director of Professional Development, Content and Systemic Programs for Texas Instruments last week, I asked what he could tell me about that.

Update on PARCC Calculator Policy

By Tech Powered Dad in news

February 6, 2015

I’ve really made no secret of the fact that I have my doubts about the long term viability of the PARCC test. Some of the sample items that have been released to the public are so difficult that they border on downright unfair. During my final 5 years as a high school math teacher, the math team I coached finished as the top public high school in Illinois in the 2A division each year, and there are items that I’m certain most of my math team students would have been unable to successfully complete.

TI-84 Plus CE Announcement Tomorrow

By Tech Powered Dad in calculators

January 26, 2015

UPDATE: I have posted my TI-84 Plus CE Review It’s been a couple of years since Texas Instruments has announced a significant change to one of their major graphing calculator product lines, the most recent being the addition of color to the TI-84 line with the TI-84 Plus C. Tomorrow morning, TI will officially break their silence on a big update to that same extremely popular line of calculators with a new 84, the TI-84 Plus CE.

Teaching the Hour of Code

By Tech Powered Dad in news

December 3, 2014

My last day teaching in a high school classroom is this Friday. I’m not the kind to just mail it in on the last day, and yet, I don’t really want to go onto a new mathematical concept since a sub will be showing up Monday to deal with the aftermath from any absences or confusion from a Friday lesson. So what to do as a standalone lesson that is more of a supplement than core to the curriculum?

Change of Leadership for Texas Instruments Calculators

By Tech Powered Dad in featured

February 9, 2014

New TI calculator chief Peter Balyta (left) On Friday, Texas Instruments announced a big change in leadership at the top of their calculator division. Melendy Lovett, who has been part of Texas Instruments for 20 years and has led the calculator division for a decade, is retiring. The new president of Texas Instruments’ Education Technology division is Peter Balyta. Balyta is just 43 years old but has been with Texas Instruments for 14 years, and spent all of that time within TI’s calculator division.

TI-Nspire OS 3.6

By Tech Powered Dad in news

December 4, 2013

UPDATE: Several of you posted more information about TI-Nspire OS 3.6 on the Tech Powered Math Facebook page. As usual Adriend Bertrand of TI-Planet already has a great story up on 3.6. Apparently, it was first available for download in mid-October. In addition to the changes I had already noticed. Readers pointed out some additional changes. The calculator app now alternates shading light and dark on equations to make them easier to read.

ICTM Wrap-up Thoughts: CCSS/PARCC, Apple, and TI-Nspire

By Tech Powered Dad in news

October 22, 2013

Since I had responsibilities at the ICTM conference last week that I haven’t had at past conferences, I wasn’t able to cover it in the same level of depth that I have when I attend an NCTM or T3. That’s fine, because as a state level conference, there wasn’t as much too see as one of those national conferences anyway. However, I do have a few closing thoughts to share from ICTM.

Zalman Usiskin’s Sharp Critique of CCSS and PARCC

By Tech Powered Dad in news

October 20, 2013

Today’s the first chance I’ve really had to sit down and process all that I heard and saw at the ICTM annual meeting in Peoria. One of the most interesting talks I heard during my time at the conference was given my Zalman Usiskin of the University of Chicago. Usiskin was the closing keynote speaker, and he delivered a fairly tough critique of the Common Core State Standards, and probably even harsher review of the PARCC (Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessment that will be used to assess CCSS in about 20 states including Illinois.

PARCC Test and Calculators

By Tech Powered Dad in news

October 17, 2013

The Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) annual meeting kicks off tomorrow in my hometown of Peoria, Illinois. I’m actually the co-chairman of the meeting, so I’ll be there throughout, and I plan to do at least one post about the meeting. For the most dedicators math educators, there was actually a pre-conference today. I hadn’t planned on posting about that, but something came up this morning that I couldn’t pass up.

Quick HP Prime Update

By Tech Powered Dad in news

August 11, 2013

Update: “If you are looking for the latest on the HP Prime, check out my HP Prime review. I mentioned about a week ago that if there was any HP Prime news that I’d be sure to update everyone. Today there was news. I heard from two different people regarding the HP Prime. One was an official source at HP, telling me that the HP Prime evaluation units have already shipped in Europe.

The Evolving TI-84 Plus Platform

Update on PARCC Calculator Policy

TI-84 Plus CE Announcement Tomorrow

Teaching the Hour of Code

Change of Leadership for Texas Instruments Calculators

TI-Nspire OS 3.6

ICTM Wrap-up Thoughts: CCSS/PARCC, Apple, and TI-Nspire

Zalman Usiskin’s Sharp Critique of CCSS and PARCC

PARCC Test and Calculators

Quick HP Prime Update

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