A utilização do computador na prática docente: sentidos construídos por um grupo de professores de matemática de uma instituição de ensino federal

Abstract

This work was developed by means of qualitative research based on the historical and cultural approach as proposed by Vygotsky and Bakhtin, attempting to analyse the meanings constructed by a group of Math teachers from the Federal School João XXIII as regards computer use in developing mathematical concepts in the Telemath Room. Collective interviews with these teachers were used in order to prompt discourse. In analyzing such discourse, three sets of meanings were observed. As for the first one, challenges and feasibility in implementing a proposal for computer use in math teaching were focused. Based on the teachers´discourse, the free software GeoGebra was found to be a potential tool in teaching mathematical concepts. The second set refers to the actions and attitudes by both teachers and students before the computer, analysing their multiple resources which seduce and challenge people. Both teachers and students were found to become used to that environment, making it a participative, collaborative, autonomous learning environment. The third set analyses the differences found by the teachers in regard to the knowledge building process in the Telemath Room and in the conventional classroom. As for the Telemath Room, the use of computers and the resources of the Geogebra Software were found to be as a flexible way to introduce mathematical concepts and knowledge was found to be built actively, favouring both interaction and collaboration among students.