The Development of Modelling Competencies by Year 9 Students: Effects of a Modelling Project

Abstract

For several years the competency of mathematical modelling has been prescribed as one of the central competencies in German educational standards in mathematics. This chapter reports results of the study of my master thesis, during which the effects of a short-term modelling project to the development of modelling competencies were evaluated. To evaluate the modelling project I developed a modelling test based on one designed by Houston, Haines, Crouch, Izard and others previously, which focussed on the development of the sub-competencies of mathematical modelling of students. Furthermore, five students were interviewed at the beginning and the end of the project to gain deeper insight into their development of modelling competencies. The results show that it is possible to foster at least students’ sub-competencies of mathematical modelling within a modelling project.