For the first time a CMM researcher, Patricio Felmer, teaches at Winter Workshops scheduled by Summer School of University of Chile (EdV), program that calls to 40,000 secondary and primary students throughout the country. In his workshop, called “Applied Mathematics”, he uses a methodology based on problems solving techniques that surprises students.
“The contribution of this course is that the methodology is new for students. The formulas they have learnt in the school are not so important. If they do not know one, they simply search it in Internet. I do not tell it to them. My role is rather moderating and supporting, they do the rest”, explained Felmer.
The workshop, which takes places Monday 21th to Friday 25th of July, aims to teach mathematical skills such as reasoning and communication. Students do the the most important part of the job, since they have to solve problems based on the methods they choose.
“It is a more realistic approach to Mathematics. Children realize that Mathematics does not imply only theory but also implementation. They also recognize that mathematics has a value because it can create things”, highlighted Felmer.
Consuelo Moreno, 14 years old, the youngest student in the class, is firmly decided to study a PhD in Mathematical Engineering at Unversity of Chile. She remarks that “Mathematics in not only about memorizing”. Another student, Lia da Silva, claims that “we will not be able to apply back in the school what we have learned here, as the teaching approach is more theoretical”.
Divided into nine groups, children received the assignment to solve a hypothetical case. They are supposed to be employees and to be asked how to carry a cable from Valparaíso to Chaitén (1.100 km). Their boss gives them drawings of four reels with different measures. The goal is to determinate which of the four reels is more suitable to carry the cable.
Discussions and debates are essential. Once every group has its own conclusions, its members draw a poster with the chosen anwer. This cartel is showed to the other groups and the entire class choose the best one that reflets the results of the hypothetical case, which will be presented in front of students of other courses on Friday 25th.
Undoubtedly, this is a challenging experience for these children who spend their holiday by learning at EdV, an institution with 25 years of experience. As Patricio Felmer pointed out: “Children are highly motivated. At the beginning they thought the exercises were very hard, but after working in team and following the methodology it seems to be much easier”.
[alpine-phototile-for-flickr src=”set” uid=”89937484@N08″ sid=”72157645493605540″ imgl=”fancybox” size=”240″ style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”13″ align=”center” max=”100″ nocredit=”1″]