Use of mathematics in engineering contexts: An empirical study on problem solving competencies

Malte Lehmann (1) , Bettina Roesken-Winter (1) , Sven Schueler (1)

1 HU Berlin - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin = Humboldt University of Berlin = Université Humboldt de Berlin

The research field of problem solving in mathematics is highly relevant in mathematics education. There are manifold approaches to understand the process of problem solving like Polya's phase model or Bruder and Collet's heuristic methods. In two studies, we investigate how engineering students' performances in higher mathematics and technical mechanics are connected (study 1, n=37) and what role their problem solving com-petencies play (study 2, n=8). In the first study, we ascertained that mathematical competencies and beliefs about physics are substantial for success in technical mechanics. In the second study, students had to complete sequences of tasks and their usage of heuristics was investigated. The results show that successful students' heuristic tools and strategies are more elaborated.

Mots clés: Problem solving; engineering education; technical mechanics; qualitative content analysis

Domaines: Education; Histoire et perspectives sur les mathématiques [math.HO]

Malte Lehmann, Bettina Roesken-Winter, Sven Schueler. Use of mathematics in engineering contexts: An empirical study on problem solving competencies. CERME 9 - Ninth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Education; ERME, Feb 2015, Prague, Czech Republic. pp.2173-2179. ⟨hal-01288607⟩