Abstract:

Currently, the usage of computers in teaching science is gaining importance due to last technologic advances. Particularly in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry education, some softwares, like Octave or Matlab, has been developed like a new tool. These kinds of systems are acknowledged to be the most effective ways to improve teaching and learning. Some students can expand their minds, through both by the visualization’s tool and by the motivation of setting up their own programs. For that reason, this work seeks to introduce students into fundamental aspects of learning through another usual approach.

Thus, the main objectives of this work are to teach students:
(1) to learn about the concept to develop in the unit, for example Geometry, Algebra… while
(2) they start handling new tools, which are so beneficial for the understanding of the concepts and are motivational aids.

To get these goals, the teachers, in the first weeks, have taught an initial course about the basic notions of the software. This course has been administered to a total of 32 students (13-year-old and 14-year-old (first year of secondary school)). In this course is presented the methodology used in the course with some examples of exercises, which have been resolved by the students. During the conference, the different tools employed will be presented, as well as a discussion on the advantages of applying this kind of approaches on practical lessons in the school. To sum up, this sort of teaching implies not only a huge implication by the students at the beginning of secondary school but also the implications of the teacher to adapt the methodology to the technologic advances.

Keywords:

Matlab, Octave, Secondary School.