Diagnosi de necessitats socials i educatives de l'aula multilingüe: aproximació des del cas de matemàtiques

El nostre objectiu principal ha estat estudiar el desenvolupament de competències discursives de l’alumnat (d’origen) estranger que contribueixin a entendre i atendre les seves necessitats socials i educatives a l’aula (de matemàtiques) multilingüe. Amb aquesta intenció, hem dut a terme accions científiques a dos nivells: amb professorat i amb estudiants. Quant a la caracterització de la complexitat normativa de l’aula de matemàtiques multilingüe, tal com estava previst: 1) hem exemplificat diverses normes socials i lingüístiques existents en el desenvolupament de pràctiques matemàtiques a l’aula; i 2) hem particularitzat el fenomen de la diversitat de normes socials i lingüístiques en casos de sessions de classe de secundària. Quant a la documentació d'indicadors de progrés en la comprensió de normes socials i lingüístiques de l’aula, i en el desenvolupament de competències discursives d’adequació a aquestes normes, tal com estava previst: 1) hem caracteritzat estratègies d’ensenyament i aprenentatge de normes socials i lingüístiques en situacions d’interacció social en petit i gran grup; i 2) hem construït criteris de seguiment del grau de desenvolupament de competències discursives d’adequació a les normes, tant pel que a professorat com alumnat. Finalment, quant a l'anàlisi de la contribució de les competències discursives a la construcció d’identitats socials, lingüístiques i matemàtiques compartides: 1) hem estudiat els usos que l’estudiant (d’origen) estranger fa de normes escolars vinculades a pràctiques socials, lingüístiques i matemàtiques; i 2) hem examinat la construcció de significats socials, lingüístics i matemàtics compartits en un ampli ventall de processos d’adequació a normes de l’aula orquestrades pel professorat de la nostra mostra.

Early Childhood Mathematics Education: Research, Curriculum and Educational Practice

This article reviews data obtained through research into early childhood mathematics education in Spain. It analyses the current curricular directions in mathematics education with early learners. It also provides an overview of mathematical practices in early childhood education classrooms to analyse the commonalities and differences between research, curriculum and educational practice. A review of the research presented at SEIEM symposia from 1997 until 2012 demonstrates: a) very little research has been done, a trend that is repeated in other areas, such as the JCR-Social Sciences Edition or the PME; b) the first steps have been taken to create a more and more cohesive body of research, although until now there has not been enough data to outline the curricular directions; and c) some discrepancies still exist between the mathematical practices in early childhood education classrooms and the official guidelines

La programmation informatique dans la recherche et la formation en mathématiques au niveau universitaire

Une étude récente auprès de 302 mathématiciens canadiens révèle un écart intriguant : tandis que 43% des sondés utilisent la programmation informatique dans leur recherche, seulement 18% indiquent qu'ils emploient cette technologie dans leur enseignement (Buteau et coll., 2014). La première donnée reflète le potentiel énorme qu'a la programmation pour faire et apprendre des mathématiques. La deuxième donnée a inspiré ce mémoire : pourquoi existe-t-il un tel écart ? Pour répondre à cette question, nous avons mené une étude exploratoire qui cherche à mieux comprendre la place de la programmation dans la recherche et la formation en mathématiques au niveau universitaire. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été conduites avec 14 mathématiciens travaillant dans des domaines variés et à différentes universités à travers le pays. Notre analyse qualitative nous permet de décrire les façons dont ces mathématiciens construisent des programmes informatiques afin d'accomplir plusieurs tâches (p.e., simuler des phénomènes réels, faire des mathématiques « expérimentales », développer de nouveaux outils puissants). Elle nous permet également d'identifier des moments où les mathématiciens exposent leurs étudiants à certains éléments de ces pratiques en recherche. Nous notons toutefois que les étudiants sont rarement invités à concevoir et à écrire leurs propres programmes. Enfin, nos participants évoquent plusieurs contraintes institutionnelles : le curriculum, la culture départementale, les ressources humaines, les traditions en mathématiques, etc. Quelques-unes de ces contraintes, qui semblent limiter l'expérience mathématique des étudiants de premier cycle, pourraient être revues.

Etnomatemática quilombola: as relações dos saberes da matemática dialógica com as práticas socioculturais dos remanescentes de quilombo do Mola-Itapocu/PA

A pesquisa, etnomatemática quilombola: as relações dos saberes da matemática dialógica com as práticas socioculturais dos remanescentes de quilombo do Mola-Itapocu/PA, realizada de junho de 2003 a dezembro de 2004, foi norteada no estudo de caso etnográfico. O questionamento básico dessa dissertação expressa a preocupação de como se estabelecer relações entre as práticas socioculturais das teias de saberes matemáticos com a matemática escolar, sem negar os seus significados e o(s) seu(s) sentido(s), que são vivenciados na (re)construção das memórias cotidianas dos remanescentes de quilombo molense? Esta investigação teve como objetivos: identificar os significados, atribuídos pelos molenses, às suas práticas socioculturais, conectadas aos saberes matemáticos da cultura local, e estabelecer algumas relações entre a matemática escolar e a matemática praticada pelos remanescentes de quilombo do Mola-Itapocu/PA, sem dispensar os seus significados e o(s) sentido(s) das memórias das vivências cotidianas do contexto particular. No capítulo I, teço reflexões críticas acerca das relações entre as práticas da vida cotidiana e os saberes etnomatemáticos, relacionadas às memórias das vivências dos remanescentes de quilombo do Mola. Inicio tecendo memórias da matemática não escolar, seguidas dos saberes plurais das práticas matemáticas; depois, lanço olhares por dentro das investidas positivistas, para evidenciar como teias investidas negam a vida cotidiana dos saberes etnomatemáticos, por último, visito os olhares escolares lançados sobre os saberes etnomatemáticos. No capítulo II, faço uma breve análise das diferentes racionalidades presentes nas (etno)ciências, desvelando as faces da etnociência, ciência moderna e da ciência pós-moderna. No terceiro capítulo, construo a análise sob as convergências e as divergências entre os saberes matemáticos e a matemática escolar, vinculadas às teias: caminhando em terrenos áridos da lógica formal matemática; aos saberes etnomatemáticos; as reentrâncias das etnomatemáticas com a complexidade da vida e a lógica dialógica da etnomatemática. No quarto, evidencio as diferenças existentes entre a pesquisa experimental positivista e a pesquisa qualitativa, para, em seguida, tecer as possíveis relações dialógicas da pesquisa etnográfica com a etnomatemática, e no quinto, com base nas falas e nas observações das vivências socioculturais e os saberes matemáticos dos informantes, estabeleço algumas relações entre os saberes locais da matemática molense e a matemática escolar. Neste contexto, começo revisitando brevemente a história da educação do campo; seguida das teias das relações entre as práticas socioculturais e a matemática dialógica dos molenses; por último, teço a alfabetização das teias de saberes matemáticos e de saberes das práticas socioculturais. A etnomatemática quilombola, incessantemente, construída nas relações da matemática dialógica com as práticas educativas molenses, evidenciou a linguagem, as memórias e as representações dos saberes matemáticos e etnocientífico, articulada às possíveis relações com os saberes da matemática escolar do ensino multisseriado.

Práticas algébricas no contexto da modelagem compreendida como proposta pedagógica

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

A mathematical model for supermarket order picking

Order picking consists in retrieving products from storage locations to satisfy independent orders from multiple customers. It is generally recognized as one of the most significant activities in a warehouse (Koster et al, 2007). In fact, order picking accounts up to 50% (Frazelle, 2001) or even 80% (Van den Berg, 1999) of the total warehouse operating costs. The critical issue in today’s business environment is to simultaneously reduce the cost and increase the speed of order picking. In this paper, we address the order picking process in one of the Portuguese largest companies in the grocery business. This problem was proposed at the 92nd European Study Group with Industry (ESGI92). In this setting, each operator steers a trolley on the shop floor in order to select items for multiple customers. The objective is to improve their grocery e-commerce and bring it up to the level of the best international practices. In particular, the company wants to improve the routing tasks in order to decrease distances. For this purpose, a mathematical model for a faster open shop picking was developed. In this paper, we describe the problem, our proposed solution as well as some preliminary results and conclusions.

Intervention strategies on teachers focused on creating meaningful educational environments for mathematical abilities development

This article describes an intervention process undertaken in a training program for preschool and first grade teachers from public schools in Cali, Colombia. The objective of this process is to provide a space for teachers to reflect on pedagogical practices which allow them to generate educational processes that foster children’s understanding of mathematical knowledge in the classroom. A set of support strategies was presented for helping teachers in the design, analysis and implementation of learning environments as meaningful educational spaces. Furthermore, participants engaged in an analysis of their own intervention modalities to identify which modalities facilitate the development of mathematical abilities in children. In order to ascertain the transformations in the teachers’ learning environments, the mathematical competences and cognitive processes underlying the activities proposed in the classroom, as well as teacher intervention modalities and the types of student participation in classroom activities were examined both before and after the intervention process. Transformations in the teachers’ conceptions about the children’s abilities and their own practices in teaching mathematics in the classroom were evidenced.

Risk pricing practices in finance, insurance and construction

A review of current risk pricing practices in the financial, insurance and construction sectors is conducted through a comprehensive literature review. The purpose was to inform a study on risk and price in the tendering processes of contractors: specifically, how contractors take account of risk when they are calculating their bids for construction work. The reference to mainstream literature was in view of construction management research as a field of application rather than a fundamental academic discipline. Analytical models are used for risk pricing in the financial sector. Certain mathematical laws and principles of insurance are used to price risk in the insurance sector. construction contractors and practitioners are described to traditionally price allowances for project risk using mechanisms such as intuition and experience. Project risk analysis models have proliferated in recent years. However, they are rarely used because of problems practitioners face when confronted with them. A discussion of practices across the three sectors shows that the construction industry does not approach risk according to the sophisticated mechanisms of the two other sectors. This is not a poor situation in itself. However, knowledge transfer from finance and insurance can help construction practitioners. But also, formal risk models for contractors should be informed by the commercial exigencies and unique characteristics of the construction sector.

Reasonable or Not? A Study of the Use of Teacher Questioning to Promote Reasonable Mathematical Answers from Sixth Grade Students

In this action research study of my sixth grade mathematics class, I investigated the influence a change in my questioning tactics would have on students’ ability to determine answer reasonability to mathematics problems. During the course of my research, students were asked to explain their problem solving and solutions. Students, amongst themselves, discussed solutions given by their peers and the reasonability of those solutions. They also completed daily questionnaires that inquired about my questioning practices, and 10 students were randomly chosen to be interviewed regarding their problem solving strategies. I discovered that by placing more emphasis on the process rather than the product, students became used to questioning problem solving strategies and explaining their reasoning. I plan to maintain this practice in the future while incorporating more visual and textual explanations to support verbal explanations.

Daily Problem-Solving Warm-Ups: Harboring Mathematical Thinking In The Middle School Classroom

In this action research study of my classroom of 8th grade mathematics, I investigated the use of daily warm-ups written in problem-solving format. Data was collected to determine if use of such warm-ups would have an effect on students’ abilities to problem solve, their overall attitudes regarding problem solving and whether such an activity could also enhance their readiness each day to learn new mathematics concepts. It was also my hope that this practice would have some positive impact on maximizing the amount of time I have with my students for math instruction. I discovered that daily exposure to problem-solving practices did impact the students’ overall abilities and achievement (though sometimes not positively) and similarly the students’ attitudes showed slight changes as well. It certainly seemed to improve their readiness for the day’s lesson as class started in a more timely manner and students were more actively involved in learning mathematics (or perhaps working on mathematics) than other classes not involved in the research. As a result of this study, I plan to continue using daily warm-ups and problem-solving (perhaps on a less formal or regimented level) and continue gathering data to further determine if this methodology can be useful in improving students’ overall mathematical skills, abilities and achievement.

Challenges in the participatory assessment of sustainable management practices in dryland ecosystems under regime shifts

Regime shifts, defined as a radical and persistent reconfiguration of an ecosystem following a disturbance, have been acknowledged by scientists as a very important aspect of the dynamic of ecosystems. However, their consideration in land management planning remains marginal and limited to specific processes and systems. Current research focuses on mathematical modeling and statistical analysis of spatio-temporal data for specific environmental variables. These methods do not fulfill the needs of land managers, who are confronted with a multitude of processes and pressure types and require clear and simple strategies to prevent regime shift or to increase the resilience of their environment. The EU-FP7 CASCADE project is looking at regime shifts of dryland ecosystems in southern Europe and specifically focuses on rangeland and forest systems which are prone to various land degradation threats. One of the aims of the project is to evaluate the impact of different management practices on the dynamic of the environment in a participatory manner, including a multi-stakeholder evaluation of the state of the environment and of the management potential. To achieve this objective we have organized several stakeholder meetings and we have compiled a review of management practices using the WOCAT methodology, which enables merging scientific and land users knowledge. We highlight here the main challenges we have encountered in applying the notion of regime shift to real world socio-ecological systems and in translating related concepts such as tipping points, stable states, hysteresis and resilience to land managers, using concrete examples from CASCADE study sites. Secondly, we explore the advantages of including land users’ knowledge in the scientific understanding of regime shifts. Moreover, we discuss useful alternative concepts and lessons learnt that will allow us to build a participatory method for the assessment of resilient management practices in specific socio-ecological systems and to foster adaptive dryland management.

Orchestrating Whole Group Discourse to Mediate Mathematical Meaning

The most common pattern of classroom discourse follows a three-part exchange of teacher initiation, student response, and teacher evaluation or follow-up (IRE/IRF) (Cazden, 2001). Although sometimes described as encouraging illusory understanding (Lemke, 1990), triadic exchanges can mediate meaning (Nassaji & Wells, 2000). This paper focuses on one case from a study of discursive practices of seven middle grades teachers identified for their expertise in mathematics instruction. The central result of the study was the development of a model to explain how teachers use discourse to mediate mathematical meaning in whole group instruction. Drawing on the model for analysis, thick descriptions of one teacher’s skillful orchestration of triadic exchanges that enhance student understanding of mathematics are presented.

Utilizing the Internet of Things to promote energy awareness and efficiency at discrete production processes: Practices and methodology

El actual contexto de fabricación, con incrementos en los precios de la energía, una creciente preocupación medioambiental y cambios continuos en los comportamientos de los consumidores, fomenta que los responsables prioricen la fabricación respetuosa con el medioambiente. El paradigma del Internet de las Cosas (IoT) promete incrementar la visibilidad y la atención prestada al consumo de energía gracias tanto a sensores como a medidores inteligentes en los niveles de máquina y de línea de producción. En consecuencia es posible y sencillo obtener datos de consumo de energía en tiempo real proveniente de los procesos de fabricación, pero además es posible analizarlos para incrementar su importancia en la toma de decisiones. Esta tesis pretende investigar cómo utilizar la adopción del Internet de las Cosas en el nivel de planta de producción, en procesos discretos, para incrementar la capacidad de uso de la información proveniente tanto de la energía como de la eficiencia energética. Para alcanzar este objetivo general, la investigación se ha dividido en cuatro sub-objetivos y la misma se ha desarrollado a lo largo de cuatro fases principales (en adelante estudios). El primer estudio de esta tesis, que se apoya sobre una revisión bibliográfica comprehensiva y sobre las aportaciones de expertos, define prácticas de gestión de la producción que son energéticamente eficientes y que se apoyan de un modo preeminente en la tecnología IoT. Este primer estudio también detalla los beneficios esperables al adoptar estas prácticas de gestión. Además, propugna un marco de referencia para permitir la integración de los datos que sobre el consumo energético se obtienen en el marco de las plataformas y sistemas de información de la compañía. Esto se lleva a cabo con el objetivo último de remarcar cómo estos datos pueden ser utilizados para apalancar decisiones en los niveles de procesos tanto tácticos como operativos. Segundo, considerando los precios de la energía como variables en el mercado intradiario y la disponibilidad de información detallada sobre el estado de las máquinas desde el punto de vista de consumo energético, el segundo estudio propone un modelo matemático para minimizar los costes del consumo de energía para la programación de asignaciones de una única máquina que deba atender a varios procesos de producción. Este modelo permite la toma de decisiones en el nivel de máquina para determinar los instantes de lanzamiento de cada trabajo de producción, los tiempos muertos, cuándo la máquina debe ser puesta en un estado de apagada, el momento adecuado para rearrancar, y para pararse, etc. Así, este modelo habilita al responsable de producción de implementar el esquema de producción menos costoso para cada turno de producción. En el tercer estudio esta investigación proporciona una metodología para ayudar a los responsables a implementar IoT en el nivel de los sistemas productivos. Se incluye un análisis del estado en que se encuentran los sistemas de gestión de energía y de producción en la factoría, así como también se proporcionan recomendaciones sobre procedimientos para implementar IoT para capturar y analizar los datos de consumo. Esta metodología ha sido validada en un estudio piloto, donde algunos indicadores clave de rendimiento (KPIs) han sido empleados para determinar la eficiencia energética. En el cuarto estudio el objetivo es introducir una vía para obtener visibilidad y relevancia a diferentes niveles de la energía consumida en los procesos de producción. El método propuesto permite que las factorías con procesos de producción discretos puedan determinar la energía consumida, el CO2 emitido o el coste de la energía consumida ya sea en cualquiera de los niveles: operación, producto o la orden de fabricación completa, siempre considerando las diferentes fuentes de energía y las fluctuaciones en los precios de la misma. Los resultados muestran que decisiones y prácticas de gestión para conseguir sistemas de producción energéticamente eficientes son posibles en virtud del Internet de las Cosas. También, con los resultados de esta tesis los responsables de la gestión energética en las compañías pueden plantearse una aproximación a la utilización del IoT desde un punto de vista de la obtención de beneficios, abordando aquellas prácticas de gestión energética que se encuentran más próximas al nivel de madurez de la factoría, a sus objetivos, al tipo de producción que desarrolla, etc. Así mismo esta tesis muestra que es posible obtener reducciones significativas de coste simplemente evitando los períodos de pico diario en el precio de la misma. Además la tesis permite identificar cómo el nivel de monitorización del consumo energético (es decir al nivel de máquina), el intervalo temporal, y el nivel del análisis de los datos son factores determinantes a la hora de localizar oportunidades para mejorar la eficiencia energética. Adicionalmente, la integración de datos de consumo energético en tiempo real con datos de producción (cuando existen altos niveles de estandarización en los procesos productivos y sus datos) es esencial para permitir que las factorías detallen la energía efectivamente consumida, su coste y CO2 emitido durante la producción de un producto o componente. Esto permite obtener una valiosa información a los gestores en el nivel decisor de la factoría así como a los consumidores y reguladores. ABSTRACT In today‘s manufacturing scenario, rising energy prices, increasing ecological awareness, and changing consumer behaviors are driving decision makers to prioritize green manufacturing. The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm promises to increase the visibility and awareness of energy consumption, thanks to smart sensors and smart meters at the machine and production line level. Consequently, real-time energy consumption data from the manufacturing processes can be easily collected and then analyzed, to improve energy-aware decision-making. This thesis aims to investigate how to utilize the adoption of the Internet of Things at shop floor level to increase energy–awareness and the energy efficiency of discrete production processes. In order to achieve the main research goal, the research is divided into four sub-objectives, and is accomplished during four main phases (i.e., studies). In the first study, by relying on a comprehensive literature review and on experts‘ insights, the thesis defines energy-efficient production management practices that are enhanced and enabled by IoT technology. The first study also explains the benefits that can be obtained by adopting such management practices. Furthermore, it presents a framework to support the integration of gathered energy data into a company‘s information technology tools and platforms, which is done with the ultimate goal of highlighting how operational and tactical decision-making processes could leverage such data in order to improve energy efficiency. Considering the variable energy prices in one day, along with the availability of detailed machine status energy data, the second study proposes a mathematical model to minimize energy consumption costs for single machine production scheduling during production processes. This model works by making decisions at the machine level to determine the launch times for job processing, idle time, when the machine must be shut down, ―turning on‖ time, and ―turning off‖ time. This model enables the operations manager to implement the least expensive production schedule during a production shift. In the third study, the research provides a methodology to help managers implement the IoT at the production system level; it includes an analysis of current energy management and production systems at the factory, and recommends procedures for implementing the IoT to collect and analyze energy data. The methodology has been validated by a pilot study, where energy KPIs have been used to evaluate energy efficiency. In the fourth study, the goal is to introduce a way to achieve multi-level awareness of the energy consumed during production processes. The proposed method enables discrete factories to specify energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and the cost of the energy consumed at operation, production and order levels, while considering energy sources and fluctuations in energy prices. The results show that energy-efficient production management practices and decisions can be enhanced and enabled by the IoT. With the outcomes of the thesis, energy managers can approach the IoT adoption in a benefit-driven way, by addressing energy management practices that are close to the maturity level of the factory, target, production type, etc. The thesis also shows that significant reductions in energy costs can be achieved by avoiding high-energy price periods in a day. Furthermore, the thesis determines the level of monitoring energy consumption (i.e., machine level), the interval time, and the level of energy data analysis, which are all important factors involved in finding opportunities to improve energy efficiency. Eventually, integrating real-time energy data with production data (when there are high levels of production process standardization data) is essential to enable factories to specify the amount and cost of energy consumed, as well as the CO2 emitted while producing a product, providing valuable information to decision makers at the factory level as well as to consumers and regulators.

Mathematical modelling of patient risks in a hospital environment, using multiple regression analysis

The aim of this research work was primarily to examine the relevance of patient parameters, ward structures, procedures and practices, in respect of the potential hazards of wound cross-infection and nasal colonisation with multiple resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which it is thought might provide a useful indication of a patient's general susceptibility to wound infection. Information from a large cross-sectional survey involving 12,000 patients from some 41 hospitals and 375 wards was collected over a five-year period from 1967-72, and its validity checked before any subsequent analysis was carried out. Many environmental factors and procedures which had previously been thought (but never conclusively proved) to have an influence on wound infection or nasal colonisation rates, were assessed, and subsequently dismissed as not being significant, provided that the standard of the current range of practices and procedures is maintained and not allowed to deteriorate. Retrospective analysis revealed that the probability of wound infection was influenced by the patient's age, duration of pre-operative hospitalisation, sex, type of wound, presence and type of drain, number of patients in ward, and other special risk factors, whilst nasal colonisation was found to be influenced by the patient's age, total duration of hospitalisation, sex, antibiotics, proportion of occupied beds in the ward, average distance between bed centres and special risk factors. A multi-variate regression analysis technique was used to develop statistical models, consisting of variable patient and environmental factors which were found to have a significant influence on the risks pertaining to wound infection and nasal colonisation. A relationship between wound infection and nasal colonisation was then established and this led to the development of a more advanced model for predicting wound infections, taking advantage of the additional knowledge of the patient's state of nasal colonisation prior to operation.

Hydro-physical characterization of media used in agricultural systems to develop the best management practices for operation of an environmentally sustainable agricultural enterprise

Florida is the second leading horticulture state in the United States with a total annual industry sale of over $12 Billion. Due to its competitive nature, agricultural plant production represents an extremely intensive practice with large amounts of water and fertilizer usage. Agrochemical and water management are vital for efficient functioning of any agricultural enterprise, and the subsequent nutrient loading from such agricultural practices has been a concern for environmentalists. A thorough understanding of the agrochemical and the soil amendments used in these agricultural systems is of special interest as contamination of soils can cause surface and groundwater pollution leading to ecosystem toxicity. The presence of fragile ecosystems such as the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and Big Cypress near enterprises that use such agricultural systems makes the whole issue even more imminent. Although significant research has been conducted with soils and soil mix, there is no acceptable method for determining the hydraulic properties of mixtures that have been subjected to organic and inorganic soil amendments. Hydro-physical characterization of such mixtures can facilitate the understanding of water retention and permeation characteristics of the commonly used mix which can further allow modeling of soil water interactions. The objective of this study was to characterize some of the locally and commercially available plant growth mixtures for their hydro-physical properties and develop mathematical models to correlate these acquired basic properties to the hydraulic conductivity of the mixture. The objective was also to model the response patterns of soil amendments present in those mixtures to different water and fertilizer use scenarios using the characterized hydro-physical properties with the help of Everglades-Agro-Hydrology Model. The presence of organic amendments helps the mixtures retain more water while the inorganic amendments tend to adsorb more nutrients due to their high surface area. The results of these types of characterization can provide a scientific basis for understanding the non-point source water pollution from horticulture production systems and assist in the development of the best management practices for the operation of environmentally sustainable agricultural enterprise