Mathematical modeling in the cybernetic world: theoretical and practical aspects

• Grant number: 12/06396-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education - Specific topics in Education
• Principal Investigator: Marcus Vinicius Maltempi
• Grantee: Marcus Vinicius Maltempi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Rodrigo Dalla Vecchia

Abstract

The main aim of this project is to investigate Mathematical Modeling in the reality of the cybernetic world from theoretical and practical studies. In the theoretical field we intend to understand the current conceptions of Mathematical Modeling in the scope of the Mathematical Education and to realize a philosophical study in aspects we consider essentials to Mathematical Modeling, namely, reality, problem, language and pedagogical objective. Guided by qualitative research methodology, we will carry out a practical study with undergraduate students in Mathematics, in order to collect data that will be joined to the theoretical study to produce an understanding concerning a Mathematical Modeling that includes the cybernetic world as a dimension. In this context, our main challenge is the intertwining of the case study results with the theoretical-philosophical construction that we will make. The relevance of this project is related to the fact that there are many researches in Mathematical Modeling using information and communication technologies, evidencing a synergy between them. However, such researches are based on conceptions of Mathematical Modeling that are associated to the mundane reality or the physical reality, ignoring particularities of the reality of the cybernetic world, which are relative newcomers to the educational scene. Thus, the main contribution of this project is in the construction of a theoretical-practical vision of Mathematical Modeling in the field of the Mathematical Education that, beyond the physical and mundane realities, incorporates the reality of the cybernetic world. (AU)