Abstract

SALAZAR SOLORZANO, Lorena. Creating math problems on Probability: a competency to be developed among math teachers. Comunicación [online]. 2017, vol.26, n.2, pp.38-48. ISSN 1659-3820.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18845/rc.v26i2-17.3443.

Creating math problems on Probability: a competency to be developedamong math teachers

For the first time, the topic of probability will be included in every level of the current Costa Rican mathematics study program, which should be reason enough for teachers to be competent not only in probability itself, but also in the creation of problems related to that subject, as well as great motivators to introduce that topic to students. In an effort to respond to the national demand in this field, this course will be held with the main purpose of developing a competition to create math problems associated with probability among future math teachers. A sample of ten teachers still pursuing a major in Mathematics Teaching at the Costa Rican National University (UNA) was taken, who were then given suitable teaching material, as well as a Compilation of Statistics of the State of the Nation Report (Costa Rica, 2016) to create math problems. For this purpose, four strategic stages were set up: analysis in classical probability, variation, and statement adaptation, creation of new mathematical problems and evaluation/improvement of what was created. Results show that by implementing these four stages, offering financial support and free access to data ata national level, powerful mathematical contextual problems can quickly be accomplished that willempower the mathematics problem creation competency in future teachers, allowing not only forentertaining and interesting problems but also for raising awareness of other mathematics-related issues amongst young Costa Ricans.

Keywords : math problems creation; solving mathproblems; probability; ludic material; mathteachers; math education.

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