Utilización de software libre como estrategia didáctica para el aprendizaje de ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias lineales en estudiantes del tercer semestre, Facultad de Mecánica de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to use free software as a didactic strategy in the Learning of linear ordinary differential equations, the investigative scope was correlational with a quantitative approach applying experimental, descriptive, and explanatory methods. A sample of 140 students from the third semester of the Faculty of Mechanics participated from the ESPOCH, the ones that were divided into two groups: experimental and control, homogeneity of the groups was verified with the F-test. Therefore To analyze the learning and availability of technological resources, a survey was used as a data collection technique and a questionnaire as an instrument. The results allowed structuring a didactic proposal based on the constructivist theory of learning, which allows the teaching process and learning to focus on the student who is the builder of their knowledge. In addition the GeoGebra software was used as a didactic strategy, which motivated the students to start using it. The proposal was implemented on the experimental group, observing a consolidation of the knowledge on linear Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) critically and self-assessment to solve problems and interpret the results. While in the control group the subject was taught traditionally. The scores of the objective test were evaluated for each group reaching a mean of 1.87/2 in the experimental group and a mean of 1.47/2 in the control group that compared to a normal z-test (parametric hypothesis testing), a value of 5.574 (calculated)> 1.96 (critical) with a significant difference on the academic performance. It is concluded that the use of GeoGebra increases the level of learning with linear ODEs, in addition, the interaction with this software allowed the students to check the results analytically and graphically, and in turn to be able to interpret them.