I hope this topic wasn't covered previously, but I did a search and couldn't find any threads that addressed the issue specifically.

I am currently preparing for my initial CFI (part 61-style, so all self-study until I fly out for an accelerated finish-up course in AZ). As I was considering how best to convey particular subject matter to future students, I came across the topic of navigation and, in particular, aviation computations. Now, I haven't used my old metal E6B since my Private Pilot days about 10 yrs ago. When I began my Instrument training, I purchased one of Sporty's electronic versions, which I continue to use for all of my flight planning. Admittedly, I had to do a bit of brushing up on using the "old school" E6B. This led me to wonder, in this era of glass cockpits and EFIS, how much emphasis is placed on utilizing this type of flight computer? It seems to me, if a student were so inclined, he/she could opt to purchase and learn the electronic computer to use for flight computations and the written test. I'm not sure how this would fly (no pun intended) with an examiner on the practical, but couldn't pin down any regulatory guidance that would prohibit this. My question is: what is the general consensus concerning the use of flight computers during initial flight training, and are there any requirements I am missing concerning the CFI portion? I know that, personally, I would want my students to learn the most primative method first and then allow them the option to "upgrade" after they had demonstrated an understanding of the basic concepts. However, I'm not sure how applicable this theory is to flight calculations and navigation - it's not as if obtaining the correct answer using one method vs. another will have any affect on one's ability to actually navigate (unlike the GPS vs. pilotage debate). I acknowledge the arguments that exist concerning battery failure and so forth, but if spare batteries are carried and rule-of-thumb computations are generally utilized during in-flight diverts, etc, how applicable is this? Just as I am a proponent of students learning instruments on gauges and needles before progressing to glass cockpits, this isn't always the outcome in this age of ever-growing dependancy on aviation technology. Sorry for the long post. Any thoughts?