Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile

Leslie Jiménez; Macarena Flores González

doi:10.29333/ejmste/18638

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Leslie Jiménez ¹ ^* , Macarena Flores González ²

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¹ Department of Mathematics, Science Faculty, University of Chile, Santiago, CHILE² LDAR, CY Cergy Paris Université, París, FRANCE^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the key elements for enriching mathematical activity during initial teacher education, in line with the skills acquired at secondary school. This is a qualitative study that presents an original methodological contribution: a three-step framework for adapting mathematical tasks, grounded in the activity theory in didactics of mathematics. The study focused on an optimization task given to 50 pre-service mathematics teachers. Data collection included work-in-progress on collaborative whiteboards (Jamboards) and final written assignments. Results demonstrate that overcoming the secondary-tertiary transition discontinuity depends on shifting the didactic contract toward autonomous exploration. GeoGebra emerged as a catalyst for heuristic reasoning and a mediator for conjecture validation, enabling mathematics pre-service teachers to manage complex subgoals and ensure procedural coherence (control activity). In conclusion, this methodological adaptation framework provides a replicable tool for enriching teacher education programs and shortening the gap between these two educational levels.

Keywords

optimization task
secondary-tertiary transition
calculus
teacher education
Klein’s first discontinuity

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 22, Issue 6, June 2026, Article No: em2844

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638

Publication date: 28 May 2026

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Article Downloads: 5

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How to cite this article

APA

Jiménez, L., & Flores González, M. (2026). Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 22(6), em2844. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638

Vancouver

Jiménez L, Flores González M. Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2026;22(6):em2844. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638

AMA

Jiménez L, Flores González M. Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2026;22(6), em2844. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638

Chicago

Jiménez, Leslie, and Macarena Flores González. "Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2026 22 no. 6 (2026): em2844. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638

Harvard

Jiménez, L., and Flores González, M. (2026). Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 22(6), em2844. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638

MLA

Jiménez, Leslie et al. "Adapting an optimization task for pre-service mathematics teachers in their secondary-tertiary transition in Chile". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 22, no. 6, 2026, em2844. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/18638