THE INFLUENCE OF THE “ENVIRONMENT ” CREATED BY THE SOFTWARE SCILAB IN THE LEARNING OF LINEAR ALGEBRA

This paper compares the results attained by a control group working with traditional methodology with those of an experimental group using an application software program called SCILAB. The focus is on linear algebra (matrices, determinants and linear equation systems) which forms part of “Mathematics II”, one of the core subjects in the B. Sc. econ. course at the Faculty of Statistics and Economic Sciences, National University of Rosario, Argentina. This survey comes under the “Teaching Mathematics with Computational Tools ” project — P.I.D. 4-202-93-004. It is financed by Program 202 for the promotion of Scientific and Technological Investigation set up by the National University of Rosario, Argentina. The conclusion is that the experimental group proved more successful