THE PERCEPTION OF MATHEMATICS IN CHEMISTRY TEXTBOOKS

ABSTRACT:

In this paper we focus our attention on the perception of mathematics in chemistry textbooks by teachers, graduate students in Mathematics Education. Our theoretical support is the Peircean Semiotics, more specifically the theory of perception, and the interdisciplinary approach understood as a possibility to integrate, articulate and work together the different disciplines. Through a qualitative and interpretative analysis of the signs produced by four groups of teachers regarding the presence of Mathematics in the Colligative Properties content in the books, we show that they perceive possibilities for interdisciplinary approaches between Mathematics and Chemistry since the presentation of objects of chemistry requires mathematical signs such as graphics and tables. In the perception of student-teachers, textbooks seem to enable interdisciplinary approaches based on proposed problem situations, experimental activities and deduction of formulas. However, these approaches require a commitment from teachers on both subjects.

Keywords:
Interdisciplinary approach; Peircean semiotic; Textbook