Abstract

JUNIOR, Niltom Vieira  and  COLVARA, Laurence Duarte. Mental models of fractions: how undergraduates deal with fundamental concepts of mathematics?. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.1, pp.124-136. ISSN 1806-5821.

This work presents an investigation with undergraduate students from Federal Institute of Minas Gerais (IFMG) - Campus Formiga. After identifying the mental models of a fundamental subject in math, fractions, important facts were observed: students may use different strategies to solve the same problem; not always the best grades, according to traditional methods of evaluation, are consistent with those students whose conceptual domain is larger; and the teaching methods may prejudice the whole academic life of students, influencing their system of beliefs. So, is presented a discussion about teaching strategies, particularly in relation to conceptual development and evaluation methods, which increases the responsibility in the classroom. © Cien. Cogn. 2010; Vol. 15 (1): 124-136

Keywords : mental models; science and math education; methods of evaluation.

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