Using Functional Programming to Promote Math Learning

Is there a recommended language to start in the world of programming? Does the teaching of programming facilitate the learning of other scientific subjects? Is it possible to take advantage of the relationship that exists between mathematics and computing for the mutual benefit of their teaching? The MateFun project arises with the intention of approaching disciplines that intersect in the field of education, based on the transversality of information and communication technologies with respect to Engineering, Communications, Psychology, Teaching, and Pedagogy. In Uruguay, computer courses are increasingly being integrated into curricular content, since learning to program seems to be part of the skills needed for today’s people. However, programming, in general, is absent in mathematics teaching, contrary to the inherent relationship of both. Also, according to 2017 data from the Educational Monitor of the National Administration of Public Education of Uruguay, Mathematics is the least approved subject of the basic secondary cycle. MateFun is a functional programming language, accessible from a web application, especially aimed at math functions learning. It is intended that through MateFun the learning of programming strengthens the appropriation of the concept of a mathematical function, at the same through this project we seek to generate scientific evidence of the transfer or the contributions of programming learning to math. Results of our first intervention show that the adolescents who experimented with MateFun had at least similar performance to those who learned functions by traditional methods, but also acquired basic knowledge of functional programming. In addition, teacher perception of Matefun group performance was significantly greater than those of the control group only during the intervention.