Sociocultural context as a facilitator of student learning of function concepts in mathematics

In Costa Rica, many secondary students have serious difficulties to establish relationships between mathematics and real-life contexts. They question the utilitarian role of the school mathematics. This fact motivated the research object of this report which evidences the need to overcome methodologies unrelated to students’ reality, toward new didactical options that help students to value mathematics, reasoning and its  applications, connecting it with their socio-cultural context. The research used a case study as a qualitative methodology and the social constructivism as an educational paradigm in which the knowledge is built by the student; as a product of his social interactions. A collection of learning situations was designed, validated, and implemented. It allowed establishing relationships between mathematical concepts and the socio-cultural context of participants. It analyzed the impact of students’socio-cultural context in their mathematics learning of basic concepts of real variable functions, consistent with the Ministry of Education (MEP) Official Program.  Among the results, it was found that using students’sociocultural context improved their motivational processes, mathematics sense making, and promoted cooperative social interactions. It was evidenced that contextualized learning situations favored concepts comprehension that allow students to see mathematics as a discipline closely related with their every-day life.

EL BIBLIOTECÓLOGO FRENTE A LA REVOLUCION DE LA INFORMACIÓN

El panorama que se tiene es difícil de enfrentar en un mundo de pasos gigantescos en donde el avance de la tecnología se ve todos los días. Los problemas que presentan las unidades de información documental como presupuesto, personal y espacio físico, además de un usuario líder en el manejo de Internet y la cantidad de información que está disponible para todos en la red mundial, es un reto que debe desafiar el bibliotecólogo actual, en un mundo de cambios constantes y que son difíciles de alcanzar, pero que deben ser la meta de todo profesional en el área.El bibliotecólogo como un profesional destacado en el manejo de la información, debe estar al día en los últimos adelantos tecnológicos para manipular la inmensa cantidad de documentación que está en los centros en forma impresa, así como aquella que está en el mundo viajando por autopistas electrónicas y algunas veces sin control.Hoy todavía no se ha olvidado la impresión en papel, pero sí se está viviendo un cambio fuerte en la forma de enviar los productos y servicios que se deben brindar en una unidad de información, sea ésta de ente público o privado, especializada o general.El mundo nos pide un cambio y un acelerado proceso en nuestras mentes que asimile parte de este desarrollo globalizado que la sociedad está viviendo a pasos gigantescos.

Technical follow courses in U.C.R.

A technicians following UCR courses have performed very well, teachers are very satisfied with their work and preparation they have received in the UNA. Lucia Chacon speaks well about the courses: I think when you start a race for it to be good, or more specifically their level of use is optimal, it is necessary that both the faculty and the students show interest. It is also important that students are aware of what the role of the library in the process of communication between the company and its role culturizante in a changing world. Thus the career of librarianship should be a support staff who need the libraries in the country, should contribute to social and cultural development of society and should be upgraded every day the library system, which is achieved mainly through accountability and self-improvement of teachers, so that their knowledge is transmitted to the students.