Abstract:

Although it is fundamental in the mathematics curriculum, algebra is one of the areas that presents the greatest difficulties for teachers and students. The study of polynomials is important in mathematics and other areas, and its use addresses arithmetic operations as well as properties of this concept. In this article we will dwell on the multiplication of polynomials.

Based on the hypothesis that the use of dynamic activities in Mathematics classes can help in the learning of contents in a more meaningful and motivating way, we present in this work the analysis of a proposal of a didactic activity with the use of Algebra Titles for teaching and learning of the multiplication of polynomials. This proposal was presented to a group of the 8th year of elementary education. Algebra Titles is an applet that uses rectangles called tiles to represent variables and numbers in order to help in learning the content involved.

The importance of this proposal is justified by the difficulties that most students present in the transition from arithmetic to algebra, because in this period students have to operate letters whose values are not associated with something manipulative. We were interested to see if the application of this applet influenced the students' understanding.

This study was developed with twenty-six students in a class of 8th grade of 3rd cycle of basic education and was carried in the context of a teaching experience during the teaching of monomials and polynomials. Methodologically we opted a qualitative and interpretative research approach, created on a case study, based on the data collection in the direct observation of a fifty-minute class and in the written productions of the students. A task was proposed that the students performed individually. The teacher is an author and assumed the role of observer.

The results show that the application of Algebra Titles facilitated the learning of polynomial multiplication by students. The performance of the students was significantly better than usual, even those who had poor performance at math. It is considered that the experience can be reapplied in other classes with the same results.

Keywords:

Applet, Teaching, Learning, Polynomials, Multiplication.