Latin American calculators in mathematics education project: PLACEM

Patrick (Rick) Scott

The Latin American Calculators in Mathematics Education Project (PLACEM) is experimenting with the use of calculators in mathematics teaching in seven Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Venezuela. PLACEM has received calculators and some financial support from Texas Instruments. There has been only minor resistance to calculator use, and initial results from the projects indicate changes in teacher perceptions on the nature of mathematics. Materials are being developed, teacher workshops held, and research projects initiated. Most countries experienced difficulty with importing the donated calculators, and there is an emerging demand for calculators.

Patrick (Rick) Scott

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Gómez, P. & Waits, B. (Eds.) (1996). Roles of calculators in the classroom.

Mail comments to Pedro Gómez: pgomez@uniandes.edu.co