Una secuencia didáctica para un concepto unificador en un curso de álgebra lineal de un programa de formación a la ingeniería

Introduction to unifying concepts in the teaching of mathematics typically adopts the axiomatic approach.  It is not surprising that under these conditions, tasks tend to become more algorithmic in order to help students’ performance and favor apparent transparency of the new concept (Chevallard, 1991). This classical response makes forget the unifying role of the concept and does not encourage its powerful use.  In order to improve the learning of a unifying concept, this thesis aimed at studying the relevance of a didactical sequence in the formal training of future engineers, centered on a unifying concept of linear algebra: the linear transformation (LT).     The idea of unification and the question of meaning are addressed through the development of problem solving competencies. The sequence of problems to solve is aimed at constructing an abstract concept (the LT) on a domain which is already mathematized, with the intent of abstracting the unifying aspect of the formal notion (Astolfi y Drouin, 1992).   Building on the work of Dupin (1995) and Sfard (1991), in mathematics and science education, we have designed didactical situations with elements of modelling, by articulating two ways of conceiving the notion (« procedural » and « structural ») in order to find a safest, more economical and reusable solving strategy. In particular, we have situated the notion in various mathematical domains where it is applicable: arithmetics, geometry, algebra and analysis. The sequence aims at developing connections between different mathematical frameworks, and between various representations of the LT in the different mathematical registers, with the historical development of the notion as a source of inspiration.  Moreover, the didactical sequence aims at achieving a balance between the practical aspect of the tasks in the foreseen professional practice and the theoretical aspect required to structure the concepts.    The study was conducted in Chile, with engineering students in the first linear algebra course of the program. We had completed a detailed a priori analysis of the sequence in order to reinforce its robustness and prepare for data analysis. With the analysis of answers to the entry questionnaire, team productions to the tasks, and comments received in students interview, we were able to identify the mathematical competencies and the levels of communication (Caron, 2004) put at work in their use of the LT. Results show emergence of the unifying role of the LT, even with students whose problem solving habits in mathematics have been marked by a procedural influence in the teaching and the learning.    The didactical sequence showed its effectiveness in the progressive construction by students of the linear transformation concept (LT), with its specific meaning and properties: the TL has appeared as an economical means of solving problems outside of linear algebra, which helped students in abstracting its underlying properties.  In contrast, we have also observed that some previously taught concepts could act as obstacles to the desired unification.  In these cases, students could revert to their old habits, and their use of the LT would rather reveal their partial understanding than help guide the resolution.

Keyphrases: structural, application, didactical sequence, unifying concept, linear transformation, procedural, modelling, change of a system of representations