Uma investigação acerca dos impactos decorrentes da implementação do MIT App inventor como recurso pedagógico no ensino de cálculo vetorial e geometria analítica

Abstract

Vector Calculus and Analytical Geometry are often considered difficult due to their abstraction and complexity. The use of the application of Computational Thinking in these fields simplifies the resolution of complex problems, decomposing abstract concepts in a logical way, improving and making the understanding of vectors more accessible, straight lines and planes, conics and quadric surfaces. The general objective of this work was to investigate the impacts of using the MIT App Inventor as a learning tool for Vector Calculus and Analytic Geometry. The study emerged as support in the face of these students' learning difficulties in these topics, combining Computational Thinking with Critical, Investigative and Creative Thinking. The methodology adopted had a qualitative and exploratory approach, with participant research being used as the main technical procedure. The sample size was 35 students from the Informatics Applied to Mathematics discipline, from the Mathematics Degree course at the Federal University of Paraíba/Campus IV, in Rio Tinto–PB. The instruments used for data collection were 5 diagnostic questionnaires that were applied after each pedagogical workshop. The results revealed that, despite studying a degree in Mathematics, students face learning difficulties in concepts of Vector Calculus and Analytical Geometry. However, the application of MIT App Inventor proved to be a significant tool for elucidating these difficulties. The software facilitated the understanding of concepts through visual representations, offering a technical and thorough approach to practical procedures and allowing a detailed analysis of each step of the process. Furthermore, the results indicated that students realized the potential of MIT App Inventor for studying mathematical content in other course subjects. Many expressed that the support provided by App Inventor could contribute to facilitating learning in other subjects of the Mathematics Degree. This study highlights the relevance and potential of educational technologies to improve the understanding and teaching of mathematical concepts, encouraging an innovative and interdisciplinary approach in the teaching-learning process.