Investigation of Mathematical Modeling Processes of Middle School Students in Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs): A STEM Approach

Authors : Şule DENİZ, Gamze KURT

Pages : 150-177

Doi:10.17275/per.22.34.9.2

View : 23 | Download : 11

Publication Date : 2022-03-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aimed to reveal mathematical modeling processes and difficulties encountered in model-eliciting activities insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MEAs); of 8th-grade students in a STEM education setting. This qualitative research is a case study conducted at a public school located in the central districts of a large province in the Mediterranean Region. The participants of the study are groups of 8th-grade middle school students in a classroom insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(five groups of students);, which were selected with the purposeful sampling method in the 2019-2020 academic year. The student groups were applied an MEA according to a certain plan, and the students’ model-eliciting processes were recorded. Then, the participants’ modeling activity process and the cognitive activities they put forward through documents and interviews were examined by considering the stages in a mathematical modeling process. For this purpose, each group’s modeling process was analyzed qualitatively using the modeling cycle of Blum and Borromeo Ferri insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2009);. The results of the study revealed that these 8th-grade students faced some difficulties in the process of modeling. These difficulties were identified in 7 categories: understanding the problem, establishing a model, using mathematics, and explaining the results, - which are the four stages of the modeling process- working within a group, verifying the created model, and time management.
Keywords : Stem Education, model eliciting activities, mathematical modelling, mathematical modelling activities, middle school students