Calc-X-Change aims to help students and teachers receive the calculators they need for math and science classes in schools, removing the barriers to accessibility to promote equity in STEM education.
Problem: Teachers across the U.S. are in desperate need of calculators.
Calculators are essential at nearly all levels. From four-function calculators used in elementary school to graphing calculators used in high school and beyond, calculators are necessary for both students and teachers, especially in math and science.
Graphing calculators, which are often above $100 in price, and even scientific calculators are too expensive for many families. Thus, the burden often falls on schools and teachers, who also often cannot pay for calculators. A quick look through DonorsChoose shows hundreds of calculator funding requests.
Problem: Digital calculator alternatives don’t cut it — yet.
Alternatives like Desmos are helpful and powerful, but they aren’t feasible for use during exams because the use of digital devices during exams can facilitate cheating without proper guiderails.
Our Solutions
Our solution to this problem is twofold. First, we’ve created a system where people can donate money or old calculators that they don’t need anymore, and we’ll give calculators directly to classrooms that need them. Second, we’re creating an application that features an inbuilt scientific and graphing calculator that can be monitored by teachers, so teachers can use free digital calculators during exams without worrying about issues like cheating.
If you would like to support our cause, please visit the “Get involved” section of our website!
Founder: Matthew Kim
Matthew Kim is a high school junior who lives in the Bay Area of California. In his free time, he enjoys solving Rubik’s Cubes, listening to music, coding and writing. He’s available at matthew@calcxchange.org.
