Impact of Fermi's Problem-Solving Environment on The Complexity and Flexibility of Pre-Service Teachers' Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18172/con.6480Keywords:
problem solving, mathematical modelling, Fermi problems, solving environments, ChatGPTAbstract
Problem-solving and modelling competencies are central to the Mathematics curriculum. Fermi problems are ideal for students to develop these competencies, as they present real and open situations that promote, on the one hand, the inclusion of realistic assumptions that increase the complexity of the solutions, and on the other hand, flexibility in the use of multiple strategies. However, primary school teachers do not introduce these problems in their classrooms and have difficulties solving them satisfactorily. We aim to find out which solving environment is most effective for pre-service teachers to develop complex strategies and use them flexibly throughout a sequence of Fermi problems. To this end, we present a quasi-experimental study with three solving environments: 55 pre-service teachers solve Fermi problems in the classroom, evoking the situation; 41 pre-service teachers solve them by experimenting at the real problem site; and 41 pre-service teachers solve them by questioning ChatGPT. Using a mixed methods approach, we analyse the strategies completed, the realistic assumptions, the types of strategy used and the participants’ flexibility for each solving environment. A combination of variable dependence and variance analysis allows us to compare the influence of the solving environment on the rate of completed strategies and their level of complexity, as well as on which strategies are most used and the pre-service teachers’ level of flexibility. The results show that, although completing a strategy is accessible to pre-service teachers regardless of the solving environment, there are significant differences in the complexity of these strategies according to the environment and also in the flexibility demonstrated. The on-site experimentation environment is the most effective for developing these skills.
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