News Releases - Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments introduces two new products for the education market; one aimed at students in middle school, high school and beyond, the other for grade school students. The CBL 2 is an easy-to-use data collection device for middle and high school science and math classes. With a built-in multipurpose user program stored in the Flash memory, users can connect a sensor and start collecting data right out of the box. It can be used to take temperature readings once an hour for 24 hours, measure the acceleration of a roller coaster, and other real world math and science applications.
The device connects to CBL 2-compatible graphing calculators, including the TI-73, TI-82, TI-83, TI-83 Plus, TI-86, TI-92 and TI-92 Plus. Features include Flash memory with built-in calculator software, a supporting cradle and four channels for data collection. The Flash memory allows programs to be updated with the most current software versions. Remaining memory can be used to store multiple experiment trials, experiment setups or other programs.
Stepping down a few grades, the TI-15 Explorer two-line display calculator is designed for third through sixth grade students. With the two-line display, students can see their entire problem and answer, complete with operation symbols. The scrolling display and previous entry features let students review past entries and results so they can look for patterns or errors.
Students can choose to display results as fractions or mixed numbers and can simplify fractions to the lowest terms, either automatically or step-by-step. It has two constant operations with counters to help develop concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, powers and units of measure. Results can be displayed as quotients and remainders, as fractions or as decimals. Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX, (800) TI-CARES, www.ti.com.
This article originally appeared in the 12/01/1999 issue of THE Journal.