Aprendendo e ensinando o sistema de numeração decimal: uma contribuição à prática pedagógica do professor

The central question of the present study is to identify the epistemological knowledge that the teachers-trainees possess regarding the characteristics (properties) of the decimal numbering system; its purpose is to offer a contribution to the pedagogic practice of the teachers who work within the Basic Literacy Cycle, in terms of what concerns both the acquisition of contents and the development of the knowledge that helps them in the elaboration of adequate strategies to working with the Decimal Numbering System in the classroom. The study is based on the constructivist sociointeractionist approach to teaching Mathematics and it constitutes, in itself, a methodological intervention with the teachers-trainees engaged in the Professional Qualification Program in Basic Education of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. The foundations of the study were found in investigations of researchers who had carried out studies on the construction of numerical writing, showing, for instance, that the construction process of ideas and procedures involved in groupings and changes to base 10 take a lot longer to be accomplished than one can imagine. A set of activities was then elaborated which could not only contribute to the acquisition of contents but that could also make the teachers-trainees reflect upon their teaching practices in the classroom so that in this way they will be able to elaborate more consistent didactic approaches, taking into consideration the previous knowledge of the students and also some obstacles that often appear along the way. Even when teachers have access to the most appropriate dicactic resources, the lack of knowledge of the content and of the real meaning of that content make the Decimal Numbering System, a subject of fundamental importance, be taught most times in a mechanical way. The analisys of the discussions and behaviours of the teachers-trainees during the activities reavealed that they made them reflect upon their current practices in the classroom and that, as a whole, the aims of each of the activities carried out with the teachers-trainers were reached

Uma análise dos questionamentos dos alunos nas aulas de números complexos

This work presents a contribution for the studies reffering to the use of the History of Mathematics focusing on the improvement of the Teaching and Learning Process. It considers that the History of Matematics, as a way of giving meaning to the discipline and improve the quality of the Teaching and Learning Process. This research focuses on the questions of the students, classified in three categories of whys: the chronological, the logical and the pedagogical ones. Therefore, it is investigated the teaching of the Complex Numbers, from the questions of the students of the Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Rio Grande do Norte (Educational Institution of Professional and Technology Education from Rio Grande do Norte). The work has the following goals: To classify and to analyse the questions of the students about the Complex Numbers in the classes of second grade of the High School, and to collate with the pointed categories used by Jones; To disccus what are the possible guidings that teachers of Mathematics can give to these questions; To present the resources needed to give support to the teacher in all things involving the History of Mathematics. Finally, to present a bibliographic research, trying to reveal supporting material to the teacher, with contents that articulate the Teaching of Mathematics with the History of Mathematics. It was found that the questionings of the pupils reffers more to the pedagogical whys, and the didatic books little contemplate other aspects of the history and little say about the sprouting and the evolution of methods of calculations used by us as well

Reestruturação da disciplina "Física I" do Curso de Tecnólogo em Gerência de Obras de Edificações do CEFET/PB

The aim of the present paper is to reorganize a discipline on technological physics so that the construction site of civil engineering becomes a natural environment of learning, providing the learner with the association between theory and practice as well as allowing the subject to process, in real time, information generated from his cognitive constructions and his contextualizations. Thus, a sequence of actions was taken into account: firstly, the programme was developed in the classroom, sharing with its contextualized information through experiments done under supervision by the learners in laboratories; secondly, the data which associate physics with construction were collected and, to do so, technical visits to construction sites were realized, providing the learner the association between the theory and the practice in a suitable site to the constructivist approach. As a result, the first discipline on physics of the Curso de Tecnólogos em Gerência de Obras de Edificações do CEFET/PB was re-structured in terms of syllabus, methodology, application and evaluation. In fact, this work deals with a dynamic process that gathers and gives emphasis to teaching, learning, technology, information, creativity, competence and abilities in a constructivist learning process and, as a consequence, having allowed institutional engagement

A matemática sob a ótica do Tarô: Uma experiência com a educação de jovens e adultos

La recherche de la formation des citoyens critiques et participatifs, dans le travail pédagogique avec les jeunes et les adultes, a besoin d un entraînement pédagogique qui va au delà de l attitude traditionnelle d'apprendre avec des méthodes mécaniques et arbitraires qui, en insistant excessivement sur l image du professeur, donnent priorité à l'enseignement, au détriment de l apprentissage. Dans ce sens, la présente étude, cherchant la possibilité de réalisation d'un travail alternatif pour l'enseignement des Mathématiques, dans une perspective transdisciplinaire, dans le sens de développer l apprentissage significatif des étudiants jeunes et adultes du Projet Croire, présente les résultats d'une recherche-intervention qui a utilisé les lettres du tarot comme ressource didactique en salle de classe. On prétend, avec cela, montrer cet instrument comme facilité d apprentissage de contenus des Mathématiques comme systèmes de numération, nombres entiers et géométrie, en amenant les Mathématiques dans une perspective historique et culturelle et donnant un traitement global à l'acte complexe d'apprendre. Dans ce travail, le jeune étudiant et l étudiant adulte est pris comme individu concret, prenant en considération les aspects cognitifs et les aspects d attitude de son apprentissage, ce qui est favorisé par la nature des lettres du tarot et par la compréhension adoptée, des mathématiques comme système symbolique

A Compreensão da idéia do número racional e suas operações na EJA: uma forma de inclusão em sala de aula

The awareness of the difficulty which pupils, in general have in understanding the concept and operations with Rational numbers, it made to develop this study which searches to collaborate for such understanding. Our intuition was to do with that the pupils of the Education of Young and Adults, with difficulty in understanding the Rational numbers, feel included in the learning-teaching process of mathematics. It deals with a classroom research in a qualitative approach with analysis of the activities resolved for a group of pupils in classroom of a municipal school of Natal. For us elaborate such activities we accomplished the survey difficulties and obstacles that the pupils experience, when inserted in the learning-teaching process of the Rational numbers. The results indicate that the sequence of activities applied in classroom collaborated so that the pupils to overcome some impediments in the learning of this numbers

Contribuições da investigação em sala de aula para uma aprendizagem das secções cônicas com significado

In this work, the didactical possibilities of investigation use in classroom, through an experience with high school students from Federal Center of Technological Education of Paraíba, as well as the study of conic sections were analysed. In order to fulfill our goals the theoretical conceptions concerning the meaninful learning in conection with the investigation of mathematics history were taken into account. The classroom research occurred by means of activities which encouraged the learner to investigate his own concepts on the conic sections. The results of the proposed activities showed the effectiveness and the efficiency of such a methodology as regards the making up of the required knowledge. They also reveal that the investigation in the classroom guides the ones involved, in this process, to have a wider look at the origins, the methods used and the several representations presented by mathematics that certainly lead, specially the students, to a meaninful learning

Física no cotidiano: da cozinha para a sala de aula relato de uma experiência didática no município de Limoeiro do Norte (CE)

Brazilian high school teaching has passing through important changes. Based on current legislation and other official documents this research focus on the notion of contextualization, discussing the possibilities of a Physics teaching contextualized at a kitchen environment. Given the difficulties presented by students in establishing the relation between the contents discussed in classroom and their own daily lives, we propose the elaboration and application of a didactic unity. This started after the analyses of an initial questionnaire answered by the students. The didactic unity was elaborated based on an earlier proposal made by GREF (Physics Teaching Reelaboration Group) for a Thermal Physics course, and involved situations on students daily lives, in particular, those activities tried to relate formal contents discussed in classrooms to the kitchen environment. The didactic unity was applied to a public high school classroom at Limoeiro do Norte (CE). After evaluation of this experience it is possible to state that contextualization is a challenge that shall be faced, so that students may have a more critical look at physics, understanding that this subject is of relevance to all of us and is present in all world around us

Aplicações das atividades estruturadas de Skemp para a construção do conhecimento matemático

The present study constitutes a discussion about the application of Structured Activities to the construction of the mathematical knowledge, proposed by Richard Skemp. The discussion is based on the research that the author carried out in a public school of the state education chain buy using procedures of the research-action. It investigates the possibility of adoption of the proposal of Skemp in a new reality. It utilizes explanations from several theorists to understand the necessity and, at the same time, to enhance the efficiency of the referred activities in first grades of elementary school when students have their first mathematics teachings. It emphasizes the important rule of the teacher, as mediator to the mental constructions of the child. It presents considerations about the results achieved by the research, noticing the possibility of adoption of the studied proposal even though it is necessary an adjustment of the procedures to appropriate didactic-pedagogic requirements to the educational reality in which this project was done

Investigação histórica nas aulas de matemática: avaliação de duas experiências

This study reflects on some procedural aspects about the development of mathematics learning from the experience with investigative activities concerning the resolution of second degree equation, which was tested a proposal for education, supported the use of texts in history of mathematics. The survey was conducted in two stages, taking the first-served basis for the second, which was carried out with a study group remainder of the first experiment. The intention was to investigate how the group participant, known as the study group, involved in the implementation of activities of research in mathematics, supported the use of the history of mathematics. Based on the results achieved during the study, it was possible to understand that the activities of research enable the development of students, range of learning mathematics and the development of skills and expertise for research as a vehicle for construction of their mathematical knowledge. This approach proposed research into the classroom is important, both for prospective teachers of mathematics and for students from elementary school, bringing a new phase for mathematical education that will come to schools

Investigação histórica na formação de professores de matemática: um estudo centrado no conceito de função

In this study we analyzed the development of a teaching experience, involving students with a bachelor s degree in mathematics from UFRN, based on the history of mathematics and mathematical investigations with the aim of contributing to the improvement of the teaching-learning of mathematics. The historical investigation tasks were planned and applied in the classroom, focusing on functional thought. The results obtained during the experience were described and evaluated based on authors who support the assumption of investigation and history as an alternative to the learning of mathematics. We emphasize that the material of analysis consisted of a work diary, audio recordings, questionnaires with testimony of the students involved, and, in addition, the assessment of the teacher of that subject. With regard to the mathematical content, the study was restricted to the concept of function, forms of representation and notation. It was evident that students showed great improvement with regard to the necessary formalization of the mathematical contents which were focused on, and to the active involvement of the students at different stages of the study. We can affirm that the completed study certainly represents significant contributions to an approach in the teaching-learning of functional thought

As Concepções da mobilidade e acessibilidade urbana aplicadas à implementação do ensino de física: uma interface pedagógica para sedimentação de conhecimentos

Abstract:It boards a study about the methodology applied in the classroom, with emphasis at the Physic teaching, but could be taken to the other matters of high school, mainly to that alumns with school delay and that needs a pedagogics resources to get the aproach of them to the subject showed trying to improve their learnship. The study was developed through the bibliographic research methodology, associated to the induce resource that allows to evaluate the methods of teaching praticed actually at High Schools, as the private as the public, to give to the teachers the resources that should change the dificulties of learning with prejudice the classmates performances. The results reacheds demonstrated that is perfectly possible to augment the physic teaching body, taking in consideration the expansion of the profit at the teaching­learnig procces, besides having allowed to shows that this methodology porpouse could be takes to others subjects of the High School to became this phase of school more suitable to the necessities of society. It concludes that the brazilian Education could receive a lot of augments, from the professional criativity on always that inside the classroom, really close of the problems showed by the classmates about learning collecting

A difícil aceitação dos números negativos: um estudo da teoria dos números de Peter Barlow (1776-1862)

The present study seeks to present a historico-epistemological analysis of the development of the mathematical concept of negative number. In order to do so, we analyzed the different forms and conditions of the construction of mathematical knowledge in different mathematical communities and, thus, identified the characteristics in the establishment of this concept. By understanding the historically constructed barriers, especially, the ones having ontologicas significant, that made the concept of negative number incompatible with that of natural number, thereby hindering the development of the concept of negative, we were able to sketch the reasons for the rejection of negative numbers by the English author Peter Barlow (1776 -1862) in his An Elementary Investigation of the Theory of Numbers, published in 1811. We also show the continuity of his difficulties with the treatment of negative numbers in the middle of the nineteenth century

O uso pedagógico de uma seqüência didática para a aquisição de algumas idéias relacionadas ao conceito de números complexos

The aim of the present work is to contribute to the teaching-learning process in Mathematics through an alternative which tries to motivate the student so that he/she will learn the basic concepts of Complex Numbers and realize that they are not pointless. Therefore, this work s general objective is to construct a didactic sequence which contains structured activities that intends to build up, in each student s thought, the concept of Complex Numbers. The didactic sequence is initially based on a review of the main historical aspects which begot the construction of those numbers. Based on these aspects, and the theories of Richard Skemp, was elaborated a sequence of structured activities linked with Maths history, having the solution of quadratic equations as a main starting point. This should make learning more accessible, because this concept permeates the students previous work and, thus, they should be more familiar with it. The methodological intervention began with the application of that sequence of activities with grade students in public schools who did not yet know the concept of Complex Numbers. It was performed in three phases: a draft study, a draft study II and the final study. Each phase was applied in a different institution, where the classes were randomly divided into groups and each group would discuss and write down the concepts they had developed about Complex Numbers. We also use of another instrument of analysis which consisted of a recorded interview of a semi-structured type, trying to find out the ways the students thought in order to construct their own concepts, i.e. the solutions of the previous activity. Their ideas about Complex Numbers were categorized according to their similarities and then analyzed. The results of the analysis show that the concepts constructed by the students were pertinent and that they complemented each other this supports the conclusion that the use of structured activities is an efficient alternative for the teaching of mathematics

Questões objetivas sobre funções das provas de matemática do vestibular da UFRN dos anos de (2001 a 2008): um diagnóstico sobre os erros que os candidatos cometem

La dificultad que los alumnos encuentran en el aprendizaje de matemática viene siendo objeto de investigación por estudiosos en educación matemática, tanto en Brasil como en el exterior. El objetivo de este estudio consiste em investigar las dificuldades en el aprendizado sobre funciones matemáticas y la influencia de las concepciones alternativas a partir de los errores que los candidatos acerca de las cuestiones sobre funciones en la prueba objetiva de matemática del acceso a la universidad de los años de 2001 a 2008. Teniendo como cuestiones de estudio para alcanzar el objetivo propuesto: identificar la relevancia del tema funciones que son contemplados en las pruebas de acceso a la Universidad; asi como cuáles han sido los tipos de funciones más privilegiados y menos privilegiados; analizar si la contextualización de la pregunta y la presencia de elementos no textuales han influenciado en el aumento de tal dificultad; analizar si la representación semiótica agrega mayor exigencia a la pregunta; analizar respecto a la exigencia matemática de la pregunta; analizar lo que se refiere al desempeño de los candidatos para verificar cuál pregunta tuvo mejor desempeño y cuál el peor e identificar los errores más frecuentemente cometidos por los candidatos en esas pruebas. Las reflexiones de los estudiosos como: Radatz (1980), Cury (1994), Socas (1997), Borasi (1997), Franchi e Rincón (2004), Pochulu (2004) presentan las dificultades en el aprendizaje matemático, que aparecen a partir de los errores cometidos por los alumnos, quando estos errores reciben la influencia de las concepciones alternativas. El estudio que se presenta en esta disertación configura un análisis de los errores que los candidatos han cometido en las preguntas objetivas sobre el tema funciones de las pruebas de acceso a la Universidad de los años de 2001 a 2008, a partir de los relatorios de la Comissão Permanente do Vestibular COMPERVE/UFRN. Con la intención de alcanzar los objetivos propuestos para este estudio, fueran sido construidas categorías de análisis. Los resultados encontrados han sido: El tema funciones es el más frecuente entre los demás con (28,1%); el tipo de función priorizada durante esos años ha sido la función logarítmica con (24%); la contextualización de las preguntas exige una mayor comprensión por parte del candidato de lo que las situaciones directas; la caracterización semiótica posee elementos que estructuran esas preguntas que el educando debe saber asociar al texto; la exigencia matemática posibilitó analizar que el procedimiento medio ha sido el más requisitado; el desempeño de los candidatos ha sido en la mayoría bajo (50%); y los principales errores que ellos han cometido han sido de realizar traducciones incorrectas de las expresiones que aparecen en las situaciones-problema; utilizar todos los datos que aparezcan en el problema sin tomar en cuenta si el cálculo realizado responde a la pregunta solicitada; no interpretar coherentemente las informaciones del gráfico; decodificar incorrectamente los valores representados por literales en una recta numérica. Los resultados señalizan la necesidad de una revisión didáctico-metodológicas de la enseñanza de funciones a raíz de las cuales las dificultades en el aprendizaje se han presentado

As quatro operações básicas: uma compreensão dos procedimentos algorítmicos

The current research had as main objective to analyze the possibility of knowledge elaboration/re-elaboration about ideas and algorithmic procedures related to basic operations by pupils of the 6th degree fundamental teaching in a significant learning process. This way the study had as basis a methodological intervention developed in a 6th degree class of a Fundamental Teaching Municipal School in the city of João Pessoa, PB. The research had as central steps the application of pre-tests (1 and 2); the execution of semi-structured interviews with the pupils involved in the theme deep studies; the elaboration and development of teaching activities, having as referential the significant learning and the application of a pre-test. The data collected in the pre-tests (1 and 2) showed a low level of the pupils comprehension about the contents related to the four operations. The answers to the post-test questions were analyzed mainly from the qualitative point of view based on the mathematic concepts comprehension theory proposed by Skemp (1980) having as complementary subsidy data collected through interviews. The analysis of the results obtained in the post-test showed that the major part of pupils reached a relational comprehension about the ideas and algorithmic procedures related to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Such results showed us that the application of a teaching methodology that privileges the content comprehension, considering the pupils previous knowledge and the reflection about the action along the activities proposed, made possible the elaboration or re-elaboration of knowledge by pupils regarding to contents adopted as theme for our research