Using mathematical assistants: essential ability in Mathematic discipline for the formation contemporary engineer

Abstract

The teaching of Mathematics, as part of the study plan for engineering careers, requires the development of skills that directly contribute to the professional model. The solution of intra or extra mathematical problems is a characteristic of these careers and the procedures of numeric calculation as well as the graphic representations and advanced visualizations for the scientific work are facilitated by using mathematical assistants (MA). The development of mathematical skills play an important role in the engineer’s education, therefore most of them are declared in the program of Mathematics discipline in Higher
Education. However, the definition of a skill directly related to the use of mathematical assistants for improving this program was not found in a bibliographical search done about the topic. The article is aimed at showing the results of an expert consultation guided to the search for a definition of the skill "use mathematical assistants" and the system of actions and operations that conform this skill. These results allow the organization of the work with the MA and their integration to the curriculum of the career. This skill could be taken into account in the discipline Higher Mathematics because it would make easier the mathematical interpretation of the problems that are solved in engineering careers, thus contributing to its curricular design.