Estruturando e investigando o funcionamento do Laboratório de Educação Matemática e Educação Financeira (LABMAT-EF)

Abstract

The present work shows a research from the Economical-Financial Investigation Group in Mathematics – GRIFE/UFJF giving a contiguity to the search for a more diffuse Financial Education in the schooling environment and, specifically in this work, causing the creation of a Financial Education and Mathematical Education Laboratory. Our main inquiry before the socioeconomic and indebtedness situation of young adults was concerning the school’s role as a training entity for children and teenagers. How is it possible to use questionings and reflexive and investigative scenarios to invite young consumers and make them raise awareness about their roles in the consumer society? This investigation suggests the creation of LABMAT-EF, space in which the researcher professor and the participating students can debate topics from daily life. Our research question focuses in how to structure the LABMAT-EF and which discussions can be worked on it, as well as the way these discussions can be conducted. The laboratory is going to be created with the direct involvement of the students so this enviroment can belong to them and for it to have an identification that gives priority to the student's speech and allows the access to information in an effective way, enabling discussion and reflection about the topics they are going to study. The aim is to have a critical look at Financial Mathematical Education topics, with the sharing of experiences, reflections and stimulation to critical thinking, trying to prevent future scenarios of indebtedness, exploration of natural resources and also preventing satifaction through irresponsible consumption habbits. For this, the qualitative research methodology was chosen, specifically action-research, which makes the students-researchers project participants together with the educating-researcher.To reach these goals, we look for theoretical background in Ole-Skovsmose, Paulo Freire and Sérgio Lorenzatto. The results obtained were satisfactory, it was possible to notice participants engaged in their activities, formulating adequate actions for the social context in which they live in and able to interpret their surrounding reality better than before, recognizing commercial appealand choosing to act as directly responsible in the deconstruction process of exaggerate consumerism. Therefore, we believe we have obtained an interesting product for teachers to use as they question daily life situations of financial education and investigation scenarios.