Mathematical modelling and modelling activities are important for making sense of mathematical concepts in different extracurricular and daily life contexts. However, teachers may have difficulties in designing these activities in a way to establish meaningful relationships with real life, in accordance with the modeling process and the objectives…

This study examined seventh-grade students' emergent and progressive financial literacy in the context of risk and reward while working on two mathematical modelling tasks. The participants were six seventh-grade students identified as 'good at mathematics' by their teachers. The data sources comprised videotaped group discussions, group…

We present an example of one of the modelling projects we assign to students in our differential equations classes. Students are asked to determine how to run a cost-efficient hot water heating system. We consider a cylindrical tank filled with water and heated by a heating element immersed in it. Together with students we discuss physical laws…

Critical thinking is a key transversal competency of the 21st century, but some students have difficulty, especially during the transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify epistemological obstacles in critical thinking related to proof, generalization, alternative answers, and problem-solving. This…

The aim of this article is to carry out a work of networking theories which combines two perspectives on the mathematical activity involved in a modelling process, in order to answer the following question: To what extent does the application of the onto-semiotic tools complement the analysis from a cognitive perspective of a mathematical…

Students exit calculus with understandings of change that want for conceptual depth and are disconnected from real-world contexts. In this paper, we present a problem that will develop their skills in using "change" concepts for learning differential equations through modelling. The problem comes from a qualitative study of how STEM…

We present an intriguing topic in a mathematical modelling course where Lanchester models are taught to our students. Lanchester models are some of the earliest and most important models used for combat modelling. We describe modelling activities and the use of technology that can be implemented in teaching this topic in this paper.

Since the introduction by Kermack and McKendrick in 1927, the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) epidemic model has been a foundational model to comprehend and predict the dynamics of infectious diseases. Almost for a century, the SIR model has been modified and extended to meet the needs of different characteristics of various infectious…

Educators have long emphasized the importance of relating mathematics to everyday life situations. During the primary school years, mathematical modeling activities play an important role in this regard. Through a mathematical modeling activity prepared in accordance with the length and area measurement learning outcomes in the primary school…

The paper aims to propose an instrument to identify students' metacognitive strategies in mathematical modelling activities. The items were designed from a review regards metacognition and instruments already recognised in literature. This design comprises an instrument that differs from others in which the data were the self-reported students'…

Gaining useful insight into real-world problems through mathematical modelling is a valued activity across several disciplines including mathematics, biology, computer science and engineering. Differential equations are a valuable tool used in modelling. Modelling provides a way for students to engage with differential equations within a…

Discrete time models, one linear and one non-linear, are investigated, both with a herbivore species that consumes a basal food source species. Results are presented for coexistence of the species and to illustrate chaotic behaviour as parameters are varied in the non-linear model. The results indicate the benefit of fertilization in terms of the…

Integer operations are typically introduced in sixth grade, but they are a consistent area of struggle among these students. This struggle also inhibits their understanding of algebraic computations involving positive and negative terms. In this article, the author provides introductory tasks and models for adding and subtracting integers that can…

The reality is that textbooks and state standards have more content than can reasonably be covered for proficiency in most classrooms. In years past, this typically meant cutting the last unit or two or moving along regardless of who was keeping up, in many cases resulting in cutting statistics from the curriculum. This article provides five…

We present a complete, soup to nuts, modeling activity of a falling column of water. Many colleagues have used this material in teaching applications of first order separable differential equations. We describe how the material can be presented with students collecting their own data from online videos. One can then either offer the differential…