0000000000673668

AUTHOR

Lluís Albarracín

0000-0002-1387-5573

Supporting mathematical modelling by upscaling real context in a sequence of tasks

AbstractCreating and developing mathematical models to solve real-world problems is a complex task and students often have difficulties in tackling it successfully. The design and implementation of sequences that help students autonomously develop their ability to solve modelling tasks could be a useful scaffolding tool to foster modelling learning. In this paper we present a sequence of estimation tasks in a real context based on what we have called the upscaling technique, which consists of scaling the accessibility and knowledge of the context used. A study with two samples of grade 10 students, experimental and control, has allowed us to find out whether this sequence promotes success i…

research product

Emphasizing visualization and physical applications in the study of eigenvectors and eigenvalues

research product

Análisis de los modelos matemáticos producidos durante la resolución de problemas de Fermi

[EN] In this paper, we present an analysis of written productions of 16 year-old students while solving Estimation Problems involving Big Numbers (EPiBN). This kind of problems is a particular type of Fermi problems and allows us to introduce modelling processes in Secondary school classrooms. Our analysis supports on the characterization of mathematical models developed by students based on the model definition of Lesh and Harel. The results show that, through the analysis of EPiBN resolutions, differentiating aspects can be distinguished between the models produced by students without modelling experience of those produced by students with prior experience, especially in the concepts and …

research product

The Influence of Technology on the Mathematical Modelling of Physical Phenomena

A study is presented in which students are asked to model two physical phenomena using applications on electronic tablets : a bounce of a ball and the extension of a spring. The analysis focusses on (a) the influence of characteristics of the applications on the tablets on the decisions that groups of 16-year-old students made during the modelling phases in which reality and mathematics are related, (b) mathematisation of the phenomena and (c) interpretation of the models. The phenomena were recorded using an app that requests users establish a set of references during the mathematisation process, which makes students focus on the way the references have been set to interpret the model prop…

research product

Design and Implementation of a Tool for Analysing Student Products When They Solve Fermi Problems

In this chapter, we present a tool for analysing the work of secondary-level students from two different schools when they solve a type of Fermi problem. The tool is based on the characterisation of the concepts, procedures and language used to construct the models. Our results show that the proposed tool is useful to describe the models and to distinguish different aspects between the models produced by students without any previous modelling experience and those obtained by students who were already acquainted with working on modelling activities.

research product