Concepções da álgebra no ensino fundamental: o caso de Mamanguape - PB

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the main students' conceptions of the ninth year of elementary school of public schools of Mamanguape, Paraiba, in relation to the study of algebra. As a basis for the study adopted as the main theoretical Usiskin (1995), Rêgo (2009), among other authors, and official documents: Brazil (1998) and Paraíba (2010), as well as the words of the elementary school that serveth as a basis for assess students' skills at the end of the school years of basic education. The research was conducted with 89 students from three classes in three public schools in Mamanguape-PB. The research methodology was characterized as a descriptive and exploratory case study with one simple interaction data. For this we adopted as the main instruments of research a semi-structured questionnaire applied to teachers and students of schools and observed a structured interview applied to the three teachers investigated. The study was conducted from November to December 2012. As a result we have that the main conceptions of students about the issue of basic algebra concepts involving the three elementary school was satisfactory, given that these students had a good understanding with regard to thematic evaluated. The survey also highlighted the need to discuss the initial and continuing training of teachers of mathematics, a fact that deserves attention throughout the scientific community.