Mathematical modeling for primary school pupils in the 4th grade
Mathematical modelling refers to the various processes that people go through when they try to solve real problems mathematically or work on text tasks. five successive sub-processes are mentioned in the literature in the so-called modelling cycle, which describe the course of the problem-solving process (Blum, 2003). in structuring, a problem situation is first understood in the cognitive-psychological sense, the essential features are abstracted and then translated into a mathematical model (consisting of equations, symbols, operators, digits, etc.) in the second step (mathematizing). When processing this mathematical model with the help of mathematical knowledge, the problem is solved internally mathematically, whereupon the result is transferred back to the original problem situation in the fourth step (interpreting). The question raised there is answered during interpretation. The final step (validate) involves a review of the entire problem-solving process: If the modeller comes to the conclusion that his result may not be correct or optimal, the modelling cycle is run through again from the beginning.In order to be able to diagnose modelling skills at an early stage and promote them accordingly, the development of methods is indicated to record the four sub-skills of structuring,mathematizing, processing and interpreting independently of each other in an objective, reliable and valid manner as early as primary school age. With the development and analysis of items for the four sub-areas, a basis for this was also created with the present work, starting with the question of whether mathematical modeling can be approached with the help of a descriptive and/or normative model. This found basis is the starting point for a test procedure to be used in the fourth year of primary school.
Published results
Riebel, J. (2010). Modeling competencies in mathematical problem solving - Inventory of modeling processes in solving mathematical text problems and development of a diagnostic instrument. http://kola.opus.hbz-nrw.de/volltexte/2010/503/pdf/Publikation.pdf
Contact person
Dr. Julia Riebel, Dipl.-Psych.