Turning math attractive to computer science students: an application-to-model approach

This paper describes an innovative approach to develop the understanding about the relevance of mathematics to computer science. The mathematical subjects are introduced through an application-to-model scheme that lead computer science students to a better understanding of why they have to learn math and learn it effectively. Our approach consists of a single one semester course, taught at the first semester of the program, where the students are initially exposed to some typical computer applications. When they recognize the applications' complexity, the instructor gives the mathematical models supporting such applications, even before a formal introduction to the model in a math course. We applied this approach at Unesp (Brazil) and the results include a large reduction in the rate of students that abandon the college and better students in the final years of our program.

Entre o formal e o real: representações acerca do modelo disciplinar da Fundação CASA de Araraquara

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise do processo formativo de professores para a educação não formal realizada em organizações não governamentais

This article presents research academic-scientific aimed to examine the definition and theoretical approach or model curriculum that organizes and guides the training of teachers to work in the field of non-formal education made in non-governmental organizations (NGOs). We chose to adopt the perspective of qualitative research was conducted and the case study course called Teacher Training for NGOs, developed by an NGO based in the city of São Paulo. The research instruments were used: document analysis course, semi-directive interviews with their trainers and coordinator and literature review. Examined in the course curriculum is defined as a path to be followed by students and instructors and as organizer of the subjects studied. Adopts the approach named Integrated Curriculum, in which teaching occurs through the study of problem situations and integration projects of learning. At the end of the study, it is suggested that the improvement of the course and follow information that, hopefully, support the production of further comparative research.