PROCEEDINGS OF THE 17TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2014
Denver, Colorado
Considering Mathematical Practices In Engineering Contexts Focusing On Signal Analysis
Page: 693
In the light of a rough description of the different contexts in which mathematics is learned and used in engineering studies, this report addresses epistemic relations between mathematics in higher mathematics lectures and mathematics in advanced engineering courses. In particular it elaborates on how different meanings of symbols, as subjectively relevant aspects of mathematical objects, are related to different institutional contexts and their dominant discourses. It is argued that modeling cycles are not an adequate tool in this context. Instead, we suggest using concepts from Anthropological Theory of Didactics (ATD). Inspired by (Castela & Romo Vázquez, 2011), exemplarily concepts from ATD are applied to topics and data from signal analysis. Finally, we claim this research could serve as a step towards investigating empirical questions relevant to students’ learning and competences and, in particular, optimizing curricula and teaching in undergraduate mathematics.