O computador no ensino da cálculo: o problema do lixo na UNICAMP e outras aplicações

Abstract

In the second semester of 1996, we worked experimentally with education in broad sense, integrating the teaching of Calculus of several variables with projects dealing with an environmental issue: The Garbage at Unicamp. Our aim was not only using Calculus as a tool in the solution of real problems but also that our students became aware of such important social issue. Moreover, with the purpose of dealing with the necessary changes in the teaching of Calculus, we effectively incorporated, for the first time, in our classes the use of the computer (software Mathematica) as an auxiliary tool for understanding and exploiting concepts. Such proposal for teaching relied on the tutors of the Program of Support for Undergraduate Teaching – PSUT, of the State University of Campinas and was denominated Calculus with Applications/PSTU. In this work, the implementation of our proposal is described, including the project and examples of activities that were developed by the students.