MATHEMATICAL MODELING AS A PROCESS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANALYTICAL AND REFLECTIVE THINKING

Abstract

This article is an excerpt from a master's dissertation by XXX (XXX) and aims to present the potential of using Mathematical Modeling in the development of students' analytical and reflective thoughts. In this exploratory study, we describe and analyze the relationships established, over nine meetings, by a group of young people in the 1st grade of high school at a private school in the city of São Paulo, in the investigation of a topic of their interest: Global Warming. The studies, discussions and analysis of the responses to a questionnaire, pointed out that the activities developed and the relationships established during the process, provided a broad view of the scope of mathematics, mainly in relation to the connection of the real world with the tools traditionally used in the classroom. At the end of the project, it was possible to verify that the path of mathematical modeling constitutes an accessible and viable option to develop the student's analytical and reflective thoughts.