Research Article

Quadratic Functions and PhET: An Investigation from the Perspective of the Theory of Figural Concepts

Renata Teófilo de Sousa 1 * , Francisco Régis Vieira Alves 1
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1 Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará, BRAZIL* Corresponding Author
Contemporary Mathematics and Science Education, 3(1), January 2022, ep22010, https://doi.org/10.30935/conmaths/11929
Submitted: 28 January 2022, Published: 27 March 2022
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ABSTRACT

This work aims to present the results of an investigation in the teaching of quadratic function with the help of the PhET Colorado simulator, analyzed from the perspective of the theory of figural concepts in the context of hybrid teaching, using the teaching methodology flipped classroom. The research methodology used was the case study, which was developed with a group of 45 high school students from a Brazilian public school. The proposed activity was developed from the simulation called “graphing quadratics”, available in the PhET, and was developed in two stages, one in a virtual way and the other in person. The results show us the need to explore the study of the quadratic function using technology from a more dynamic perspective. We reinforce the importance of the manipulation performed in the simulator to understand the relationship between the coefficients a, b and c of the function and the behavior of its graph, being a potential resource in the learning of this subject by the students.
Keywords: 2nd degree function, mathematics teaching, blended learning, flipped classroom, theory of figural concepts

CITATION (APA)

de Sousa, R. T., & Alves, F. R. V. (2022). Quadratic Functions and PhET: An Investigation from the Perspective of the Theory of Figural Concepts. Contemporary Mathematics and Science Education, 3(1), ep22010. https://doi.org/10.30935/conmaths/11929

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