Rally de matemáticas: introducción al álgebra

Abstract

Difficulties in mathematics are a significant cause of poor academic performance and high dropout rates in both secondary and higher education. This is often attributed to the abstract and disconnected way in which mathematical concepts are traditionally taught. To address this issue, this study proposes an innovative teaching strategy for introducing algebra through a collection of mathematical challenges aimed at beginner students. These challenges, including riddles, crossword puzzles, and adapted traditional board games, are designed to foster student interest, enhance logical thinking, and facilitate the teaching-learning process. The activities encourage students to actively construct their knowledge through hands-on, playful experiences. After administering the rally to 70 students, statistically significant differences were found between the pretest and posttest, leading to the conclusion that this rally can be an appropriate tool for promoting mathematical reasoning, hierarchy of operations, fractions, and algebraic equations.