Didactic model for the development of mathematical thinking in naval engineering students in Colombia

Abstract

The learning-teaching process in math is fundamental for navy engineering students, where specific subjects have a strong theoretical foundation in basic sciences, more concise in mathematics related areas. This research has the objective to construct a didactical model based in context problem solving, modeling and mathematical visualization for the learning-teaching process of contents from the Ship Stability subject for navy engineering students in the Colombian navy University “Escuela Naval de Cadetes Almirante Padilla (ENAP)”. The work lies in the research-action approach of the qualitative research. Results show the model structure composed of four parts; the first one contains the model principles:  the epistemological and didactical foundations and the objectives and goals of the constructed model.  The second one is a characterization of the model is described, and the necessity for students. The third one, named, resolutive, has three phases (exploration, resolution, and action), that are subdivided in inter-related components one to another. Finally, the fourth part is a proposal for the practical implementation of the model.  The model obtained generates a robust construction of mathematical context for problems related to ship stability in the naval context.