Teaching the limits of functions using The Theory of Didactical Situations and Problem-Based Learning

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The concept of limit plays a central role in the foundation of modern mathematical analysis. However, the concept itself plays a minor role in both upper secondary and undergraduate engineering education, leaving the students with many misconceptions about the concept, resulting in poor performance in calculus and calculus-based engineering courses. Most emphasis in teaching has been on how to calculate the limit instead of on understanding its definition. In this paper, we will use the frameworks of Brousseau’s theory of didactic situations (TDS) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to suggest a method to teach engineering students the concept of limit and explain its formal definition. The purpose is to enable the students to generate a precise definition of limit of a function that captures the intended meaning of the conventional ε-δ definition. Moreover, we will argue that TDS bears many similarities with PBL, as both frameworks require that the students act and engage in non-routine and realistic problems.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 47th Sefi Annual Conference 2019, 2019
PublisherSEFI: European Association for Engineering Education
Publication date2019
Pages58-69
ISBN (Print)9782873520182
Publication statusPublished - 2019
EventSEFI Annual Conference: European Society for Engineering Education. - Budapest University of Technology, Budapest, Hungary
Duration: 16 Sep 201919 Sep 2019

Conference

ConferenceSEFI Annual Conference: European Society for Engineering Education.
LocationBudapest University of Technology
LandHungary
ByBudapest
Periode16/09/201919/09/2019

ID: 237704065