Mobile learning: Uma nova forma de aprender Matemática nos cursos de Administração

Abstract

Mathematics is considered by many students of basic education as a difficult discipline, and this perception is sometimes the reason for they interrupt theirs studies. This problem occurs in all educational levels, including in higher education where sometimes some students opt to make selection for undergraduate courses that do not "have a lot of math." Thus, in Bachelor Degree courses in Administration, students usually come with many difficulties in this area of knowledge, since, mathematics is essential for the training of the administrator, a professional responsible for analyzing situations and decision-making, mathematical knowledge is essential to the execution of their tasks. Moreover, the need to expedite the implementation of their activities these professionals need to apply this skill using the resources provided by digital technologies. Currently one sees increased use of these technologies via mobile devices, more commonly known as smartphones, tablets, iPad and Iphones. These devices have become part of everyday life of these students as well as professionals. Regardless of what the line of work they are present from the simplest to the most sophisticated jobs, as well as realize a strong presence of these devices today also in the classroom. Starting from this assumption comes to the following questions: how math teachers of management courses can use mobile devices to develop a methodology to support these students? What applications can be used for this purpose to use them? You can use these resources in classrooms of management courses? To answer these questions this study was meant to examine the possibility of using mobile devices as a facilitator interface of mathematics education in management courses. It identified the existence of applications that can be used for financial mathematics teaching as well as some difficulties in its implementation. Despite the obstacles, the research shows that students mostly favor the use of but devices reporting of teacher observation during activities revealed that it is necessary as no electronic devices the teacher to prepare for planning of content and knowledge applications that will use in the classroom. We leave as a result to further research a final product made with instructional material guiding how to use the applications during the financial math classes.