Teaching innovation and application of Active Methodologies in the teaching of Applied Mathematics

Abstract

Objective: Design a Learning Guide for the Applied Mathematics subject of the Political and Administrative Sciences Career at the University of Los Lagos, consistent with the learning results of the program, expressly incorporating active-participatory methodologies in a general context, in order for students to change the negative perception of the subject. Methods: A qualitative study is carried out that involved interacting with a group of 20 students who took the subject without the innovation implemented and the group of 35 students who experienced the active methodologies from the project. Both groups of students were consulted through a semi-structured interview. A methodology framed in action research is applied. Relevant information is collected from the actors involved to establish the need for innovation, building a diagnosis to later intervene in this reality through planned innovation, collect results and glimpse adjustments. To evaluate the effectiveness of the study guide, the interview was applied to the following segments that participated in the investigation: students who studied the subject with different methods; former teacher of the subject; and, students who took the subject only with active methodologies. Results: The perception of the Applied Mathematics subject gradually improved. The conception of the guide that stimulates the use of active methodologies had a favorable reception in the group of students submitted to the formative experience.