Mathematical Modeling Activities as a Useful Tool for Values Education

Abstract

Values education is crucial since it is one of the factors to reach success in education in broader sense and in mathematics education in particular sense. It is also important for educating next generations of societies. However, previous research showed that expected importance for values education was not given in Mathematics courses. In a few studies, it was identified that discussion-based approaches, problem solving strategies and cooperative learning environments made contribution to values education. It can thus be considered that mathematical modeling activities in which school students study cooperatively in small groups, find solutions to daily-life problems using mathematics and share these solutions with their counterparts would be useful. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to determine the processes in detail which will contribute to the teaching of general educational values, mathematical values and mathematics education values emerging during the experiences which students gain while working with mathematical modeling activities. 58 school students at Grades 6 and 7 constituted the sample of the present study. It was used eight mathematical modeling activities through one semester. The classroom observations, video records and students' written documents were investigated using descriptive analysis. As a result, it was argued that modeling activities include very rich settings that would contribute to the development not only of general educational values but also of mathematical values and mathematical education values.