Mathematical modeling with students of secondary of the Talca commune, Chile

Abstract

The article presents the findings in the subject of study of mathematics, accomplished with students of third year of municipal secondary schools of the Talca commune. In relation to specific mathematical contents, the initial profile of the students, the skills that they develop and the change in their math conceptions are analyzed, when they are faced to processes of modelling. Following a methodology of quantitative and qualitative modalities, a plan of analysis that enabled a detailed study of the productions of the target group of experimentation was designed. To the level of conclusions, difficulties and obstacles are noticed in the pretest in the work with problems. It contrast with the posttest, that shows that these obstacles can be regulated when Mathematics is related with the different areas of knowledge and with the everyday life.