Elena Nesterova

La modelación matemática en situaciones cotidianas con los software Avimeca y Mathcad

Modeling processes through the approach of functional relationships are considered by both, students and teachers, as a difficult task since the activities require efficient and creative skills to connect and manage different representations of daily life situations, and relate with mathematical modeling. Additionally to the background of mathematical knowledge that students require when establishing a solution plan, problem-solving and collaborative work are essentials to promote learning. This report presents everyday life situations activities relating to filling containers, athletics, and cycling. The goal is that students identify relationships between variables involved in the phenomenon and calculate the function that models its behavior. The development of the activity has four stages: 1) the activity was videotaped, 2) the software AVIMECA was used to get data variables in real time, 3) data graphical representation is carried out with Microsoft Excel, and finally, 4) the software Mathcad was used to calculate mathematical expression that models phenomena.

Assessment of learning activities in discussion forums online

This is a report intended to describe a research about assessment of learning activities done in a virtual forum. Students messages in the forum as a whole were considered as analysis unit. It was employed a content analysis technique to identify characteristics involved in the messages. Categories and indicators for analysis were defined from the Community of Inquire Model, adapted specifically for mathematics courses. Examples selected as a guide for learning activities assessment are shown, in terms of number and type of participation, as well as result from linear correlation analysis between numbers of participations to each category.