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Tasks proposal for the development of variational thinking in engineering students

Abstract:

This paper describes o proposal of tasks to develop variational thinking in engineering students. The tasks have os theoretical references the processes of treatment and conversion of semiotic representation registers, processes of reflexive coordination for the encapsulation and des-encapsulation of the object-process, the understanding of mathematical concepts based on their functionality, and the new meaning of mathematical knowledge. The levels of performance (recognition, relationship and formal deduction) of the students in the solution of mathematical exercises in which they must use the variational thought were defined. An experiment was developed with two groups of engineering students and with the some professor. In the experimental group, the proposed tasks were implemented, and the control group worked in a traditional form. The results showed that of the three performance levels analyzed, levels of relation and formal deduction were higher in the experimental group and that there were significant differences between the scores of the students that formed the two groups.