Mathematics at the enterprise: Industry, university and school working together to facilitate learning

Hans Kristian Nilsen (1) , Anne Vegusdal (1)

1 UIA - University of Agder

Based on a pilot study, this paper reflects upon how the industry, university and school can work together to facilitate learning of mathematics. Through a project called MathEUS (Mathematics at the Enterprise, University and School) a modern energy recovery enterprise, Returkraft, the University of Agder and a school collaborated to offer pupils (in 8 th and 9 th grade) an opportunity to engage with mathematics contextualized at an enterprise. Through comparing the 2015 edition with our redesign in 2016, we discuss the outcome of the project. In particular, we focus on the factors necessary for such a project to succeed. Findings suggest that mathematics contextualized at an enterprise as an isolated event has limited value. Further, findings seem to indicate that working together with the enterprise over time, by including a pre-project, strengthens pupils' experience of mathematics as a relevant subject.

Mots clés: Diversity; relevance; authenticity; out-of-school contexts; enterprise

Domaines: Mathématiques [math]; Sciences de l'Homme et Société

Hans Kristian Nilsen, Anne Vegusdal. Mathematics at the enterprise: Industry, university and school working together to facilitate learning. CERME 10, Feb 2017, Dublin, Ireland. ⟨hal-01937338⟩