Mathematical skills and the use of graphing calculator in solving applied problems

By teaching mathematics with a focus on the development of mathematic skills, students may learn to use math in various real situations rather than simply mastering formal mathematical concepts. Having this in mind, we planned and developed an educational program for the learning of mathematics, by integrating mathematical modeling and graphing calculators so that freshman students repeating the Introduction to Mathematics course in the Social and Economic Sciences School at a Venezuelan public university, would achieve mathematical skills connected to real functions. 17 volunteer students participated in this study, carried out as a field research project with an evaluative nature through the methodology program assessment. The students' productions were analyzed, finding out that they were able to solve problems with the help of a calculator and to gain such mathematical skills.