Latin American calculators in mathematics education project: PLACEM.

Antecedents

UNESCO conducted in Asia a pilot project on teaching mathematics using calculators. Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Pakistan co-operated in examining their mathematics curricula to see how learning could be improved by using calculators. They prepared curriculum materials which specifically required the use of calculators. When the project concluded, Australia had mandated, in agreement with the Australian Mathematics Teachers Association, calculator use at all levels. New Zealand had developed curriculum materials which used calculators, which were subsequently incorporated in the new national textbooks. Japan has included calculator use in their new national objectives of mathematics teaching. And Pakistan's education department decided to not recommend the use of calculators at the primary school level.

In 1992, Ed Jacobsen at UNESCO initiated a similar project for Latin America, but lack of funds prevented its implementation. The Inter-American Committee for Mathematics Education (IACME) agreed to sanction the project, and funding has been given by Texas Instruments beginning in 1994. Joining Ed Jacobsen in the Coordination of the Project were Rick Scott from the University of New Mexico (Vice President of IACME) and Eduardo Luna from Barry University (President of IACME). The funding from Texas Instruments has included calculators, some money for the printing of materials, and travel money so that country coordinators could meet with the project coordinators. On their behalf, the countries have invested matching funds, mainly in terms of personnel and field work.

Scott - 2 OCT 1996



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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