Contributions to the Learning in Linear Algebra: An Experience With the Mathe Platform

Abstract

The current pandemic context has highlighted the importance of looking for technological alternatives that contribute for students to achieve greater autonomy in their learning. In particular, in the field of mathematics in higher education, it is urgent to find technological instruments that mediate learning, such as interactive content or online platforms.The MathE platform (https://mathe.pixel-online.org), still under development, aims to be a tool to facilitate the acquisition of mathematical skills in the field of higher education. Its main resources are the Self Need Assessment, Final Assessment, Material Didactic and Video Collection and are freely available for students and teachers. It was precisely the resource "Self Need Assessment", that served as the basis for a study with 84 students who attended the course unit of Linear Algebra and Analytical Geometry, as part of the 1st year of a Bachelor in engineering or technology in portuguese higher education. They solved some tasks of self-assessment on Vector Spaces and Linear Transformations, and finally answered a questionnaire in which they expressed their opinion of the platform.We intend to present the MathE platform and, based on the perceptions/opinions of students and teachers involved in the experiments carried out, analyse its potential for the promoting the teaching of linear algebra.

Projeto MathE: uma reflexão sobre questões e recursos de geometria elementar

“…Um dos aspetos menos favorável à utilização da plataforma por estudantes portugueses é o facto da língua inglesa ser a predominante. Na perspetiva dos estudantes do estudo de Barros et al (2021) esse aspeto não torna inviável a sua utilização (59,5% dos estudantes), mas pode dificultar a compreensão das questões (57,1% dos estudantes) ou constituir um obstáculo relevante (40,5% dos estudantes). Cabe aos professores ajudarem a gerir o processo e auxiliarem os estudantes que têm mais dificuldades nesse aspeto, podendo como alternativa elaborar um glossário com a tradução dos termos matemáticos específicos dos temas que vão trabalhar.…”