Abstract:

"Modelling laboratory" is a compulsory subject in the new Degree in Mathematics of the University of Murcia (Spain). According to its syllabus, the main aim is that the student be able to afford a problem from other sciences, model it using mathematical techniques, give a solution (even an approximate one) and check and interpret the obtained solution. A set of projects are offered to the students, to work on individually and in groups, for that purpose. The students must first find a mathematical description of the problem. Then, they have to select the most suitable software to cope with it. Finally, the obtained solution has to be analysed, in particular its sensitivity to changes in the inputs. In this paper we show the decisions made by the teachers to put the subject at work (topics considered, the way they are explained, the requirements to pass the subject,...). We also describe the computer supported collaborative work tools (namely, blogs, wikis and web pages) to be used for the first time during the course 2012/13 (the second year the subject is taught).

Keywords:

Autonomous learning, real cases studies, work in groups, computer supported collaborative work.