Il Laboratorio delle Macchine Matematiche: dalla tradizione a un progetto regionale di formazione degli insegnanti della scuola secondaria

[Machine translation] The Laboratory of Mathematical Machines (MMLab) of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is a research center on teaching and learning mathematics with the use of tools, which also operates as a decentralized teaching room for laboratory activities aimed at classes of secondary school students. Since November 2008, a collaboration has been launched between the Laboratory of Mathematical Machines and the Emilia Romagna region for the implementation of a two-year project (called “Laboratory of Mathematical Machines for Emilia Romagna”) whose objective is to develop an operational model for the dissemination on a regional scale of a methodology for mathematics laboratory activities that follows the indications proposed by the UMI-CIIM Commission in the Mathematics curriculum for the citizen. This project is the first action of the regional Science and Technology project in Emilia-Romagna promoted by the Department of School, Professional Training, University, Work, Equal Opportunities and carried out in partnership with the Regional School Office and the National Agency for School Autonomy ANSAS (formerly IRRE ER). The first part of this chapter presents the different perspectives with which the idea of a mathematics laboratory is interpreted and the research on which the activities of the Laboratory of Mathematical Machines in Modena are based. These activities are described in the second part in which, starting from the laboratory activities with mathematical machines carried out for years in the Modena laboratory, a summary of the most recent activities related to the regional project is presented.