DIGITAL LIBRARY
MATHEMATICS IN GEOSCIENCES: DIFFICULTIES AND TUTORIAL ACTION
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) (SPAIN)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2014 Proceedings
Publication year: 2014
Pages: 5237-5241
ISBN: 978-84-617-2484-0
ISSN: 2340-1095
Conference name: 7th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 17-19 November, 2014
Location: Seville, Spain
Abstract:
Tradiccionally, mathematics is specially difficult for Biology and Geology students. There are several reasons as a lack of enough background of mathematics, a lack of motivation and insecure feelings dealing with abstraction and to translate a geophysical problem into a mathematic one. The educational EU-plans (EEES) have promoted the creation of educational resources, the PC educational contents made by university teachers and institutional web development. In addition, the presence of TIC's have provided to teachers a lot of free resources by internet and the opportunity to integrate and share their own resources. Students with a low level in mathematics does not take advantage of this interesting world of possibilities because they have difficulty to read in mathematical language and to translate a geophysical problem into a mathematical one. The lack of enough background of mathematics is also an impediment to go to tutorships as they feel insecure and feel even shame.

Therefore, the development of the subject of mathematics has been based on two actions:
1) Preparation of basic manuals on mathematics to use by Moodle;
2) To do tutorships and to work in limited groups of three students, one of them with a good knowledge in mathematics who also shall work as a tutor.

The interactivity makes the teachers explanations easier, increasing the motivation and learning. This way to develop the class was followed by 74 students starting their studies in Geological Sciences degree in Complutense University of Madrid.