Systematization and Implementation of Mental Calculation in the Cape Verdean Education System

Abstract

In this article, part of a study will be presented, developed under a doctoral thesis whose objective is to understand the importance of Mental Calculation (CM) in the teaching and learning process of calculus in students of 2. º to the 6th year of schooling in Cape Verde, aiming at the systematization and implementation of the Mental Calculation in the Cape Verdean Education System.
For the development of the experimental study, two groups were defined, Control Group (CG) and Experience Group (GE), and had two different moments of application of the test to the groups. Initially, the test (pre-test) was applied to both groups, followed by weekly sessions, for a period of 7 months, teaching and learning calculus based on CM strategies with the GE and finally applied again to the groups, the same test (post-test).
The results verified by the GE in both moments, show improvements in the students’ learning, when compared the averages of correct exercises, in the pre-test (31.74) and in the post-test (126.87), and of wrong exercises, in the pre-test (14.82) and post-test (1.35). Regarding the CG, the same comparison shows no significant changes in students’ learning, with averages of 10.26 (pre-test) and 10.89 (post-test) of correct exercises and 12.01 (pre-test) test) and 14.68 (post-test) of wrong exercises. The results of the test in both moments will be presented and discussed, trying to show the gains obtained by the students of the GE throughout the study that contrast with the stagnation of the students of the CG.