Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis

Hanti Kotze

doi:10.29333/ejmste/91922

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Hanti Kotze ¹ ^*

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¹ University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This paper aimed to investigate the type of modelling task that may elicit competencies that are more aligned with demands from the biomedical technology industry. The inquiry identified strengths and weaknesses in students’ modelling competencies by analysing errors in two types of modelling tasks: atomistic and holistic. By using subtasks, errors could be identified according to the Newman error categories and compared with six modelling competencies according to the framework of Blum and Leiß. First-year biomedical technology students at a South African university made more errors in interpreting, validating and presenting, these being modelling competencies required to convert mathematical results to real-world results. The findings indicated that competencies embedded in atomistic tasks are more relevant to workplace demands in the local setting than those elicited in holistic modelling tasks. The implications for classroom practices are discussed.

Keywords

biomedical technology
mathematical modelling
error analysis
atomistic
modelling
holistic modelling

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 14, Issue 8, August 2018, Article No: em1567

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922

Publication date: 02 Jun 2018

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Article Downloads: 1271

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How to cite this article

APA

Kotze, H. (2018). Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(8), em1567. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922

Vancouver

Kotze H. Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2018;14(8):em1567. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922

AMA

Kotze H. Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2018;14(8), em1567. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922

Chicago

Kotze, Hanti. "Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2018 14 no. 8 (2018): em1567. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922

Harvard

Kotze, H. (2018). Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(8), em1567. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922

MLA

Kotze, Hanti "Competencies in Mathematical Modelling Tasks: An Error Analysis". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 14, no. 8, 2018, em1567. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91922