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The research reported in this thesis had two aims. To investigate how the variability and complexity of the mobile context of use should be addressed when capturing user needs for mobile products and to explore the role of indirect methods of data capture as tools for eliciting user needs in a form appropriate for informing the scenario based design of mobile products during the. earliest stages of product development. This research presents a novel scenario-based approach to eliciting and representing user needs in a form suitable for informing the earliest exploratory stages of mobile product design. Within this approach scenarios are used to provide snapshots of actual or envisaged product use that can be used to find a starting point for design when there is no clearly defined focus for innovation. Scenarios are organized into sets using scenario tables to structure consideration of key variables within the mobile context of use. These key variables are identified as: mobility, emotion, social relationship and communication purpose. Three user studies were conducted using UK undergraduate students as the study population. Study One explored use of schematic representations ('maps') of each participant's social communications and mobility as tools for eliciting user needs, both in relation to existing mobile product use and in relation to projected use of future mobile product concepts. Study Two used a diary study method to explore existing mobile communications use. Ways of structuring consideration of the mobile context of use were explored and the effectiveness of the diary as a tool for eliciting user needs and for scenario generation was assessed. Study Three extended the diary study approach to include consideration ofthe emotional context of product use and to include pictorial feedback of diary entries to study participants. These personal representations of product use were used to further explore user needs and to prompt participants to generate narratives describing motivations for product use suitable for presentation in scenario form.

Modern embedded systems complexity, performance and energy efficiency has been increasing steeply the last few years. An explosive growth in demand for wireless communication is observed as well and modern wireless links are expected to deliver bit rates of several gigabits while consuming even less energy. In order to satisfy these needs new technologies emerge and novel design approaches are put into practice. Communication at 60 GHz is such a technology that is able to deliver high bit rates in short range wireless links. A major motivation to use the 60 GHz spectrum is the worldwide availability which makes exploitation economically viable. Moreover, small wavelength of only 5 mm promises high integration due to small antenna component size which is one of the main bottlenecks for reducing the dimensions. However, increased frequency comes with many disadvantages as well. To increase the market potential of such a new technology the chip design needs to be cheap and energy-efficient. Such cost and energy constrains heavily impact the performance and the quality of both the analog and the digital components of the chip. In the current thesis the design possibilities of a component in the digital baseband of the receiver of such a chip are explored. The component under investigation is a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) that is used for frequency domain equalization. This part of the receiver is used to reduce the effects of multipath in a non line-ofsight communication environment and as this is a common case in wireless communication the FFT block has been identified as one of the 2 most computational intensive components of the receiver in 60 GHz. This is the main reason why we explore possibilities to further decrease the power consumption of the block while maintaining the performance and the quality of service. To achieve this reduction the possibilities of a new design concept are explored. System Scenarios is a new design concept for embedded systems operating in dynamic environments. Wireless communication systems exhibit high dynamism during their operation on highly varying data streams, providing the System Scenarios huge xvi capabilities. The essential idea behind system scenarios is the classification of the application under investigation from a cost perspective during design time. Then, the classification is exploited during run time resulting to an overall improved implementation of the application. To achieve this the application is broken down to run-time situations (RTS) which are distinguishable operation modes of the application. Then RTSs with similar costs are clustered to form system scenarios. Finally for each scenario a different mapping and scheduling of the application is generated. In the case of the current thesis the application is the FFT and the cost perspective is the power consumption of the component. To exploit the RTS clustering in run time different quantization schemes have been produced. These schemes have been generated based on various properties of the data waveforms in the input of the FFT. The thesis explores the potential of the System Scenarios as well as the application of a quantization methodology for the FFT. Different options of the RTS clustering and the quantization of the FFT block are evaluated in order to come up with a more efficient implementation. / Τα σύγχρονα ηλεκτρονικά συστήματα παρέχουν στους χρήστες έναν καθημερινά αυξανόμενο αριθμό υπηρεσιών και λειτουργιών. Η ζήτηση τς αγοράς για ϕθηνές, αξιόπιστες και ϕορητές ηλεκτρονικές συ- σκευές ωθεί τα όρια του σχεδιασμού των ενσωματωμένων συστημάτων σε νέες ανεξερεύνητες περιοχές. Η ϕορητότητα απαιτεί την αϕαίρεση όλων των καλωδίων είτε για μετάδοση δεδομένων είτε για ενέργεια. Για να επιτευχθεί αυτό, η ασύρματη επικοινωνία σε υψηλό ρυθμό μετάδοσης είναι επιθυμητή χωρίς να θυσιαστεί η υψηλή ενεργειακή απο- δοτικότητα που καθιστά την συσκευή αυτόνομη από το ενεργειακό δίκτυο για μεγάλες χρονικές περιόδους. Η συνεχής αύξηση στις προδιαγραϕές των σύγχρονων ενσωματομένων συστημάτων έχει οδηγήσει στην χρήση καινοτόμων ιδεών, προσεγγίσεων και τεχνολογιών. Μια νέα τεχνολογία που υπόσχεται υψηλή ολοκλήρωση και υψηλό ρυθμό μετάδοσης δεδομένων στις ασύρματες ζεύξεις είναι η επικοινωνία στα 60 GHz. Μια νέα προσέγγιση σχεδιασμού για ενσωματομένα συστήματα υπόσχεται αποτελεσματική εκμετάλευση του δυναμισμού που μπορεί να παρουσιάζει ένα σύστημα. Τα ασύρματα συστήματα επικοινωνίας λειτουργούν τυπικά σε πολύ δυναμικά περιβάλλοντα. Τα Σενάρια συστήματος έχουν μεγάλες δυνατότητες για να βελτιώσουν την αποτελεσματικότητα της υλοποίησης των ψηϕιακών βάσεων τέτοιων συστημάτων. Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εξερευνούμε της δυνατότητες της αρχιτεκτονικής του FFT που βρίσκεται στην πλευρά του δέκτη ενός πομποδέκτη στα 60 GHz. Ο FFT είναι μέρος της εξίσωσης στο πεδίο της συχνότητας που χρησιμοποιείται για να μειώσει της επιδράσεις του ϕαινομένου multipath. Χρησιμοποιώντας Σενάρια Συστήματος προσπαθούμε να καταλήξουμε με μια πιο προσαρμοστική και συνεπώς πιο ενεργειακά αποδοτική υλοποίηση του μετασχηματισμού. Η εϕαρμογή των Σεναρίων Συστήματος χρησιμοποιώντας δεδομένα ως παράμετρο είναι μια καινοτόμα προσέγγιση και σε αυτή την διπλωματική εργασία ελέγχουμε την επιτευξιμότητα της. Για να επιτύχουμε κάτι τέτοιο πρέπει να μπορούμε να παράγουμε πολλαπλά διαϕορετικά σχέδια κβαντοποίησης του μετασχηματισμού σε αποδεκτά χρονικά διαστήματα. Οι παρούσες μέθοδοι κβαντοποίησης δεν μπορούν ακόμα να παρέχουν τέτοια δυνατότητα. Έτσι βασιζόμενοι στην επέκταση μια υπάρχουσας μεθοδολογίας προτείνουμε μια ολοκληρωμένη μεθοδολογία που μπορεί να παράγει σχέδια κβαντοποίησης μεγάλων στοιχείων υλικού όπως ο FFT.

Στην επιστημονική κοινότητα υπάρχει η τάση αποθήκευσης διδακτικών αντικειμένων σε αποθήκες περιεχομένου και η χρήση τους για την δημιουργία διαδικτυακών διδακτικών σεναρίων. Αυτή την στιγμή στην κοινότητα υπάρχει η τάση δημιουργίας αυτόνομων (modular) διαδικτυακών (web-based) εφαρμογών που να ερευνούν και να συλλέγουν διδακτικά αντικείμενα, καθώς επίσης και εφαρμογών που να δίνουν την δυνατότητα συνδυασμού διαφόρων αντικειμένων για την δημιουργία διδακτικών δραστηριοτήτων. Ένα πρόβλημα που έχει προκύψει είναι ο συνδυασμός της δυναμικής συλλογής διδακτικών αντικειμένων και της δημιουργίας εκπαιδευτικών σεναρίων. Η δημιουργία, αλλά και η αποθήκευση των διδακτικών αντικειμένων στις περισσότερες βάσεις, γίνεται ακολουθώντας συγκεκριμένα πρότυπα. Με τον τρόπο αυτό είναι δυνατό να υπάρχει πολυχρηστικότητα και επαναχρησιμοποίηση των αντικειμένων από τον ίδιο τον δημιουργό ή άλλους χρήστες, στο ίδιο ή σε διαφορετικά διδακτικά σενάρια. Στην διπλωματική εργασία θα μελετήσουμε καταρχήν τη δυνατότητα δυναμικής και αυτοματοποιημένης εξεύρεσης και συλλογής διδακτικών αντικειμένων (Learning Objects), βάσει δεδομένων κριτηρίων αναζήτησης, τα οποία είναι αποθηκευμένα σε ηλεκτρονικές βάσεις αποθήκευσης διδακτικού περιεχομένου (Learning Objects Repositories - LOR) στο διαδίκτυο ακολουθώντας συγκεκριμένα πρότυπα/πρωτόκολλα (κυρίως το ΙΕΕΕ Learning Object Metadata). Επίσης, θα μελετήσουμε τη δυνατότητα δημιουργίας εκπαιδευτικών σεναρίων, βασισμένων σε επιστημονικά αποδεκτές διδακτικές στρατηγικές, μέσω λογισμικού με χρήση των παραπάνω διδακτικών αντικειμένων και αποθήκευσης τους ακολουθώντας το κοινά αποδεκτό πρότυπο SCORM. Αρχικά, θα παρουσιάσουμε τη διαθέσιμη τεχνολογία (πρωτόκολλα και πρότυπα) εξεύρεσης και συλλογής διδακτικών αντικειμένων, επικεντρώνοντας σε «ανοικτά» πρότυπα και πρωτόκολλα (κυρίως το Open Archives Metadata Harvesting Protocol μέσω HTTP request σε αντίστοιχη server εφαρμογή που είναι ενσωματωμένη στις πιο δημοφιλείς εφαρμογές LOR). Στη συνέχεια θα παρουσιάσουμε τις δημοφιλέστερες και επικρατούσες εκπαιδευτικές/παιδαγωγικές θεωρίες μάθησης με χρήση Τ.Π.Ε. Κατόπιν θα εφαρμόσουμε τα προηγούμενα θεωρητικά μοντέλα συνολικά σε μια αυτόνομη εφαρμογή και θα αναφερθούμε σύντομα στην πιθανή ενσωμάτωση της ως εργαλείο (Module) κάποιας υπάρχουσας εφαρμογής διαχείρισης. / All over scientific community today there is a trend to store learning objects in repositories and use them to create web-based teaching scenarios. Presently the scientific community trend is to create modular web-based applications in order to search and harvest learning objects, and moreover to create applications that provide the option of combining various learning objects in order to design teaching activities. A problem that occurred is to be able to, concurrently, dynamically harvest learning objects and create a teaching scenario. Creation, but also storage of learning objects in most databases, is performed following specific standards. In this way, multiple usage and usability is achieved for the author himself but also for other users, either in the same or in different teaching scenarios. In this thesis we will initially investigate the possibility of dynamic and automated search and harvesting of Learning Objects based on pre-defined search criteria, stored in Learning Objects Repositories (LORs) on the web, according to specific standards (mainly IEEE Learning Object Metadata). We will also investigate on the possibility of creating teaching scenarios, based on widely accepted teaching strategies, through software utilizing the aforementioned learning objects and their storage according to the widely accepted SCORM standard. Firstly, we will present the existing technology (protocols and standards) of searching and harvesting learning objects, focusing on open standards and protocols (mainly Open Archives Interconnection Metadata Harvesting Protocol via HTTP request towards a server application which is embedded in the most popular LOR implementations). Then, we will present the most popular and dominating teaching/educational theories through Informatics and Communications Technologies in Education (ICTE). Finally we will apply the previous theoretical models as a whole in an autonomous application and we will briefly mention the possibility of embedding it, as a module, in an existing content management platform.

A República Argentina baseia sua economia interna na produção agropecuária. Na província de Buenos Aires se encontra o Município de Pergamino, que abriga um complexo sistema de produção agroindustrial (SAG), que representa a vanguarda desta economia. Por sua forte inserção internacional, a dinâmica deste sistema reflete a dinâmica dos agronegócios internacionais. Este trabalho analisa a dinâmica deste sistema local, com vistas à antecipação dos cenários futuros dos agronegócios da região pampeana Argentina. Foi procedida a caracterização dos vetores da dinâmica dos agronegócios do município de Pergamino, por meio da identificação dos principais stakeholders, das variáveis-chave que incidem na evolução dos sistemas agroindustriais e suas inter-relações, correlacionando-as com as tendências de cada um dos setores-elos deste SAG. A identificação e análise destes elementos se constituem nas etapas preliminares da construção de cenários futuros dos agronegócios do município e do seu entorno. A análise prospectiva do SAG pretende capacitar os principais stakeholders vinculados ao uso do solo do Município de Pergamino às possíveis mudanças que poderão acontecer no futuro. A metodologia se baseia no emprego de 49 entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os principais stakeholders dos setores do SAG local, relacionados aos insumos, produção, indústria, mercado e às atividades de implicações gerais. A identificação dos stakeholders foi apoiada por consultas a oito especialistas vinculados ao SAG. Esta pesquisa concluiu que as mudanças estruturais no SAG do município de Pergamino são geradas primordialmente pelos stakeholders internacionais. Destacaram-se um total de 24 variáveis-chave, relevantes aos agronegócios do município. As variáveis-chave de maior freqüência de menção se referem às políticas nacionais do Estado Argentino, à bioenergia, à demanda asiática, à biotecnologia e às barreiras comerciais internacionais. As principais variáveis-chave dinamizadoras das tendências do futuro dos agronegócios de Pergamino estariam relacionadas à demanda internacional, principalmente da China, à concentração das empresas dos setores de insumos e indústria, aos avanços da biotecnologia e à inclusão das culturas voltadas ao mercado de bioenergia na sua pauta de produção. Ao lado destas variáveis, afetas a elementos mercadológicos e à inovação tecnológica, também seriam vetores importantes de construção do futuro do município de Pergamino, a concentração das empresas nos setores de insumos e da indústria, associada às inversões estratégicas das trading e às barreiras comerciais. Uma variável de importância latente no município de Pergamino se refere à possibilidade de ocorrência de crises sociais, possivelmente derivada da ameaça associada aos processos de concentração de atividade econômica ou a quedas de demanda do mercado exterior, que incidiria no desenvolvimento da economia regional. Pelos resultados desta pesquisa, o futuro dos agronegócios de Pergamino será determinado primordialmente pelas variáveis que se derivam da sua forte inserção e interdependência dos mercados internacionais e da concentração dos negócios em um pequeno número de empresas, as quais subordinam, tanto as reações e iniciativas relativas aos investimentos e as escolhas locais, como as próprias políticas públicas de adaptação às mudanças externas. Neste trabalho foi revelador que a importância para a economia local das variáveis relativas à evolução do mercado, à concentração empresarial e à inovação tecnológica são fortes indicadores da inserção e interdependência internacional dos agronegócios da região pampeana Argentina / The economics of Republic of Argentina is based on agricultural production. In the province of Buenos Aires is located the county of Pergamino, which encloses a complex system of agribusiness production (SAG), representing the frontline of this economy. For its strong international insertion, the dynamics of this system reflects the dynamics of the international agribusiness. This research analyses the dynamics of the local system, aiming the anticipation of future scenarios of agribusiness of Argentina Pampas. The characterization of the vectors of the agribusiness dynamics of Pergamino County was carried out by identifying the main stakeholders, the key variables that underline the evolution of agribusiness systems and their interrelationships, correlating them with the trends of each one of the link-sectors of this agribusiness system. The identification and analyses of these elements are the preliminary steps in the construction of the future scenarios of the agribusiness in the county. The prospective analyses of the agribusiness system intend to capacitate the main stakeholders linked to the land use of Pergamino to face the possible changes that may happen in that field in the future. The methodology is based on the use of 49 semi-structured interviews with the main stakeholders of the local agribusiness system sectors, related to inputs, production, industry, market and general activities. The stakeholders identification was supported by consulting eight experts related to the local, agribusiness system. The conclusion of this research is that the structural changes in the county of Pergamino agribusiness system are generated mainly by international stakeholders. A total of 24 key variables were identified as relevant to the county agribusiness future. The most frequent key variables mentioned by the interviewers are related to Argentina Government politics, bioenergy, asian demand, biotechnology and international market barriers. The main forces driving Pergamino agribusiness future trends would be related to international demand, mainly from China, concentration of companies in the inputs and industry sectors, advances in biotechnology, and the inclusion of crops used in the production of bioenergy in the local fields. Along with these variables, affected by market elements and technological innovation, are also important vectors in the construction of the future of Pergamino County the concentration of companies in the inputs and industry sectors, associated to the strategic initiatives of the tradings, and the commercial barriers. A variable of latent importance in Pergamino is the possibility of occurring social crisis, possibly due to the threat related to concentration processes of economic activities or reduction in the demand of international trade, which would influence the regional economic development. Based in these research results, the future of Pergamino agribusiness will be determined mainly by variables that derive from the strong insertion and dependence of international trades, and concentration of business in a small number of companies, which subordinate the reactions and the initiatives related to local investments and choices, and the public policies towards the adaptation to international changes. This study has shown the importance of the variables related to market evolution, concentration of companies and technological innovation to the local economy, which can be understood as strong indicators of the international insertion and interdependence of Argentina Pampa agribusiness.

A República Argentina baseia sua economia interna na produção agropecuária. Na província de Buenos Aires se encontra o Município de Pergamino, que abriga um complexo sistema de produção agroindustrial (SAG), que representa a vanguarda desta economia. Por sua forte inserção internacional, a dinâmica deste sistema reflete a dinâmica dos agronegócios internacionais. Este trabalho analisa a dinâmica deste sistema local, com vistas à antecipação dos cenários futuros dos agronegócios da região pampeana Argentina. Foi procedida a caracterização dos vetores da dinâmica dos agronegócios do município de Pergamino, por meio da identificação dos principais stakeholders, das variáveis-chave que incidem na evolução dos sistemas agroindustriais e suas inter-relações, correlacionando-as com as tendências de cada um dos setores-elos deste SAG. A identificação e análise destes elementos se constituem nas etapas preliminares da construção de cenários futuros dos agronegócios do município e do seu entorno. A análise prospectiva do SAG pretende capacitar os principais stakeholders vinculados ao uso do solo do Município de Pergamino às possíveis mudanças que poderão acontecer no futuro. A metodologia se baseia no emprego de 49 entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os principais stakeholders dos setores do SAG local, relacionados aos insumos, produção, indústria, mercado e às atividades de implicações gerais. A identificação dos stakeholders foi apoiada por consultas a oito especialistas vinculados ao SAG. Esta pesquisa concluiu que as mudanças estruturais no SAG do município de Pergamino são geradas primordialmente pelos stakeholders internacionais. Destacaram-se um total de 24 variáveis-chave, relevantes aos agronegócios do município. As variáveis-chave de maior freqüência de menção se referem às políticas nacionais do Estado Argentino, à bioenergia, à demanda asiática, à biotecnologia e às barreiras comerciais internacionais. As principais variáveis-chave dinamizadoras das tendências do futuro dos agronegócios de Pergamino estariam relacionadas à demanda internacional, principalmente da China, à concentração das empresas dos setores de insumos e indústria, aos avanços da biotecnologia e à inclusão das culturas voltadas ao mercado de bioenergia na sua pauta de produção. Ao lado destas variáveis, afetas a elementos mercadológicos e à inovação tecnológica, também seriam vetores importantes de construção do futuro do município de Pergamino, a concentração das empresas nos setores de insumos e da indústria, associada às inversões estratégicas das trading e às barreiras comerciais. Uma variável de importância latente no município de Pergamino se refere à possibilidade de ocorrência de crises sociais, possivelmente derivada da ameaça associada aos processos de concentração de atividade econômica ou a quedas de demanda do mercado exterior, que incidiria no desenvolvimento da economia regional. Pelos resultados desta pesquisa, o futuro dos agronegócios de Pergamino será determinado primordialmente pelas variáveis que se derivam da sua forte inserção e interdependência dos mercados internacionais e da concentração dos negócios em um pequeno número de empresas, as quais subordinam, tanto as reações e iniciativas relativas aos investimentos e as escolhas locais, como as próprias políticas públicas de adaptação às mudanças externas. Neste trabalho foi revelador que a importância para a economia local das variáveis relativas à evolução do mercado, à concentração empresarial e à inovação tecnológica são fortes indicadores da inserção e interdependência internacional dos agronegócios da região pampeana Argentina / The economics of Republic of Argentina is based on agricultural production. In the province of Buenos Aires is located the county of Pergamino, which encloses a complex system of agribusiness production (SAG), representing the frontline of this economy. For its strong international insertion, the dynamics of this system reflects the dynamics of the international agribusiness. This research analyses the dynamics of the local system, aiming the anticipation of future scenarios of agribusiness of Argentina Pampas. The characterization of the vectors of the agribusiness dynamics of Pergamino County was carried out by identifying the main stakeholders, the key variables that underline the evolution of agribusiness systems and their interrelationships, correlating them with the trends of each one of the link-sectors of this agribusiness system. The identification and analyses of these elements are the preliminary steps in the construction of the future scenarios of the agribusiness in the county. The prospective analyses of the agribusiness system intend to capacitate the main stakeholders linked to the land use of Pergamino to face the possible changes that may happen in that field in the future. The methodology is based on the use of 49 semi-structured interviews with the main stakeholders of the local agribusiness system sectors, related to inputs, production, industry, market and general activities. The stakeholders identification was supported by consulting eight experts related to the local, agribusiness system. The conclusion of this research is that the structural changes in the county of Pergamino agribusiness system are generated mainly by international stakeholders. A total of 24 key variables were identified as relevant to the county agribusiness future. The most frequent key variables mentioned by the interviewers are related to Argentina Government politics, bioenergy, asian demand, biotechnology and international market barriers. The main forces driving Pergamino agribusiness future trends would be related to international demand, mainly from China, concentration of companies in the inputs and industry sectors, advances in biotechnology, and the inclusion of crops used in the production of bioenergy in the local fields. Along with these variables, affected by market elements and technological innovation, are also important vectors in the construction of the future of Pergamino County the concentration of companies in the inputs and industry sectors, associated to the strategic initiatives of the tradings, and the commercial barriers. A variable of latent importance in Pergamino is the possibility of occurring social crisis, possibly due to the threat related to concentration processes of economic activities or reduction in the demand of international trade, which would influence the regional economic development. Based in these research results, the future of Pergamino agribusiness will be determined mainly by variables that derive from the strong insertion and dependence of international trades, and concentration of business in a small number of companies, which subordinate the reactions and the initiatives related to local investments and choices, and the public policies towards the adaptation to international changes. This study has shown the importance of the variables related to market evolution, concentration of companies and technological innovation to the local economy, which can be understood as strong indicators of the international insertion and interdependence of Argentina Pampa agribusiness.

Para ocorrer, a inovação deve passar obrigatoriamente por diversas fases diferentes: O surgimento das ideias, a seleção de projetos, a fase de investimento, a entrega dos resultados. A escolha entre alternativas de iniciativas está sempre envolta de incertezas macroeconômicas, uma vez que o resultado desta decisão só terá seus resultados concretizados no futuro, quando as condições externas podem ter-se alterado de maneira fundamental. Este trabalho realiza uma revisão bibliográfica das principais ferramentas de seleção de projetos e de prospecção de cenários econômicos, para então propor um referencial teórico necessário para criação de uma nova metodologia que permita a seleção de projetos considerando o caráter dinâmico da economia. / To be possible, innovation must go through several different phases: the emergence of ideas, the project selection, the investment phase, the delivery of results. The choice between alternative initiatives are always shrouded in macroeconomic uncertainty, since the result of the decision will only have its results achieved in future, when external conditions may have changed in fundamental ways. This work presents a literature review of both the projects selection and economic scenarios creation tools, for then to propose a theoretical framework necessary for the creation of a new methodology that allow selection of projects considering the dynamic nature of the economy.

Esta dissertação descreve a análise de uma experiência de Modelagem Matemática entendida como um ambiente de aprendizagem, desenvolvida na disciplina de Projeto de Iniciação Científica. Busquei analisar as contribuições da Modelagem para análise, discussão e resolução de problemas oriundos da área técnica de agropecuária (em particular na área de bovinocultura leiteira e avicultura de corte) e também sua contribuição para o ensinoaprendizagem de Matemática. Para isto baseei meus estudos bibliográficos em autores que defendem a utilização da Modelagem no ensino e também naqueles que se identificam com a Teoria Sócio-histórica de Vygotski. Adotei uma abordagem qualitativa na pesquisa e para coletar dados utilizei um ambiente de aprendizagem com dois cenários para investigação, com estudantes do Ensino Médio do Curso Técnico em Agropecuária da Escola Agrotécnica Federal de Rio do Sul. A análise dos dados indicou que a resolução de problemas relacionados à área técnica gera discussões referentes a estratégias a serem utilizadas e as investigações ganham maior ênfase quando estudadas no próprio campo de ocorrência. A Modelagem Matemática causou uma alteração na dinâmica de trabalho nos cenários, modificando as posturas do professor e alunos. A atuação dos alunos, comprometidos e responsáveis pelo trabalho de referência em sua realidade técnica, tornou todo o processo de elaboração mais expressivo em termos de aprendizagem matemática. Este estudo destaca que a Modelagem contribuiu para o melhor entendimento do tema investigado e da Matemática utilizada, embora a ausência de definição de conceitos a priori, utilizados na elaboração dos modelos, gerou insegurança nos alunos. Além disso, esta dissertação forneceu subsídios para a elaboração de material que pode ser utilizado, por professores interessados em trabalhar com Modelagem. / This paper describes deals an experience analysis in a mathematical modelling understanding like learning ambient, developed in Started Scientific Project. Picked to analyse the contributions from modelling to analysis, discussions and the solutions that comes from agropecuária technique area (especially milkmade cattle ranser area and hack aviculture), and the contribution for math teaching/learning too. My bibliographical studies were based in authors that defend to use the modelling activities to teach and identify with social historic from Vygotski. Acept a qualitative approach to search, and catch datas, used a learning ambient with two scenarios for the investigation, and Secundary Education students from Rio do Sul Federal Agrotécnica school - Agropecuária Technical Course-. The datas analysis indicated that the problems solutions about strategies technique area and its investigations make better when were stydied in own arena as of fact. The Modelling Mathematics has caused an alteration in the teachers and students attitudes. The students were engaged, and the learnig mathematics process stayed more expressive. This review shows that the Modelling contributed for best perception around the subject investigated and the Mathematics used, even if there are few definition of concepts, creating at the start insecurity in the students. Additionally, this dissertation supplies material that can be used for teachers interested in work with Modelling.

A criação de sistemas de informação e a preocupação em disponibilizar informações de diferentes naturezas (sociais, econômicas, saúde) é crescente no Brasil. Não obstante, o estudo do crescimento somático e da aptidão física de crianças e adolescentes pode trazer informações valiosas para que profissionais que atuam com essa faixa etária possam melhor desenvolver programas de educação física e esportes. Dessa forma, o objetivo geral desse estudo é o de mapear o crescimento somático, aptidão física e os indicadores sociais georreferenciados de crianças e jovens brasileiros, de 10 a 15 anos, estratificados por sexo e por estados do sul do Brasil. A amostra é composta por 33.875 crianças e jovens, sendo 16.689 do sexo feminino (Paraná 4.055, Rio Grande do Sul 8.670 e Santa Catarina 3.964) e 17.186 do sexo masculino (Paraná 3.807, Rio Grande do Sul 9.228 e Santa Catarina 4.161. A amostra foi retirada do banco de dado do Projeto Esporte Brasil. Utilizamos a técnica de “mapas e cenários” (mapping). O estudo foi composto por três mapas e um cenário. Para a descrição dos dados nos mapas utilizou-se a média, o desvio padrão e a freqüência de ocorrência. Para a composição do cenário foi utilizada o teste quiquadrado e o risco estimado. Para o tratamento dos dados utilizamos o programa SPSS for Windows. Os resultados demonstraram que no mapa do crescimento tanto os meninos quanto as meninas do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) são mais altos e mais pesados que nos outros dois Estados. No percentual de ocorrência para índice de massa corporal observamos que os avaliados do RS apresentam uma maior ocorrência acima do ponto de corte nos dois sexos seguidos pelos avaliados no Paraná (PR). No mapa da aptidão física, constatou-se que os avaliados em Santa Catarina têm os melhores índices, em média, nos dois sexos, para: resistência geral e abdominais em 1 minuto. Os avaliados no RS e PR oscilaram com índices inferiores aos dos SC nessas variáveis. O mesmo ocorreu para flexibilidade no sexo masculino. No entanto, no sexo feminino as PR atingiram melhores índices. No mapa dos indicadores sociais georreferenciados observamos que o RS apresenta a menor densidade demográfica dos três estados. Ao citarmos os indicadores econômicos SC apresenta o maior PIB/per capita dos três Estados e ao mesmo tempo tem a menor participação no PIB nacional. Nos indicadores sociais SC se destaca positivamente quando comparado aos outros dois estados. É o melhor índice de desenvolvimento humano, melhor índice de desenvolvimento juvenil, a melhor distribuição de renda (coeficiente de Gini) e a menor taxa de analfabetismo. O RS apresenta a menor taxa de mortalidade infantil. No cenário elaborado, realizamos uma associação entre o IMC e as variáveis da aptidão física relacionada à saúde de acordo com a bateria de testes do PROESP. Constatamos que existem associações significativas entre as variáveis IMC - Resistência Geral e IMC - Força/Resistência Abdominal (p=0,000). Já com relação à associação entre IMC – Flexibilidade não houve associação significativa (p>0,005). Assim o risco estimado para os avaliados que não atendem o ponto de corte para a resistência geral é de 147% (RR=2,47) para os meninos e 88% (RR=1,88) para as meninas, de também não atingirem o ponto de corte do IMC. Na força/resistência abdominal 96% (RR=1,96) de risco dos meninos que não atingiram o ponto de corte nessa variável de também não atingirem no IMC, ao fazer essa mesma análise para o sexo feminino constatou-se que existe um risco de 90% (RR=1,90). Os pontos de corte utilizados para as duas variáveis são propostas pelo PROESP-BR (2009). A utilização da técnica de mapas e cenários nos permite ter uma ampla visão dos resultados atingidos pelo PROESP-BR, disponibilizando subsídios, georreferenciados, para aprofundar nossos estudos sobre determinados fenômenos referentes ao crescimento somático e aptidão física de crianças e jovens. / The development of information system and the need for available information of different natures (social, economic, health) is crescent in Brazil. Nevertheless, the somatic growth and physical fitness study of children and adolescents can bring valuable information to professionals that act with this age group so they can develop better physical education and sports programs. Thus, the general goal of this study is to map the somatic growth, physical fitness and social georeferences indicators of Brazilian children and youth of 10 to 15 years old stratified by sex and locations in the Southern Brazilian States. The sample was composed by 33.875 children and youth, 16.689 girls (Paraná State 4.055; Rio Grande do Sul State 8.670; Santa Catarina State 3.964) and 17.186 boys (Paraná State 3.807; Rio Grande do Sul State 9.229; Santa Catarina State 4.161). The sample was taken from the PROJETO ESPORTE BRASIL database. We used map and scenario (mapping) technique. The study was composed for three maps and one scenario. We used mean, standard deviation and occurrence to describe the maps. To the scenario composition we used the qui-square test and estimate risk. The SPSS for windows program was used for data treatment. The results showed that somatic growth map for both sexes for the individuals from Rio Grande do Sul State are taller and heavier than the others States. The occurrence of individuals above the body mass index cut offs was bigger in Rio Grande do Sul State for both sexes, followed by Paraná State. Regarding the Physical Fitness map, we observed that the individuals from Santa Catarina State had the higher means, for both sexes, in general endurance and in muscular strength/resistance. The same occurred in flexibility levels of boys. However, girls from Paraná State had the best results. With regards to the social georeference indicators map, we observed that Rio Grande do Sul State showed the lower demographic density. Santa Catarina State had the bigger gross domestic product per capita and the lower national gross domestic product participation. Santa Catarina State had positive highlight social indicators compared to the others two States And also had the best human development index, the best youth development index, the best distribution of income (Gini coefficient), and the best illiteracy rate. Rio Grande do Sul State showed the lower infant mortality rate. At the elaborated scenario we used the body mass index and general endurance association. We identified an association between the variables (p=0,000) and the estimated risk for those individuals who did not attend the general endurance was 147% (RR=2,47) and 88% (RR=1,88) for boys and girls respectively, bigger than those individuals who attended the general endurance cut offs to be into the group that did not attend the body mass index cut offs. The cut offs used for both variables are proposed by PROJETO ESPORTE BRASIL (PROESP, 2009). The maps and scenarios technique utilization allowed us to have a broad vision of PROJETO ESPORTE BRASIL results, providing subsidies, georeferenced, to deepen our studies about children and youth somatic growth and physical fitness.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma proposta para o ensino de Estatística na 8ªsérie/9º ano do Ensino Fundamental, verificando como se desenvolve o ensino desta ciência neste nível de escolaridade e qual a contribuição da Estatística para a aprendizagem de Matemática e para a formação crítica dos estudantes. Para isto, elaboramos e aplicamos uma sequência didática, que envolveu a realização de pesquisas, pelos alunos de uma 8ª série, com temas de seus interesses. A turma, na qual desenvolvemos este trabalho, faz parte de uma escola de Ensino Fundamental da rede Municipal de Osório. A metodologia de pesquisa utilizada foi o Estudo de Caso e o referencial teórico baseia-se na Modelagem Matemática de Barbosa e na proposta de Cenários para Investigação de Skovsmose. O desempenho dos alunos durante as aulas, como o interesse e a participação nas atividades, mostrou que a proposta é válida e adequada para o ensino de Estatística no Ensino Fundamental. Verificou-se que os Ambientes de Aprendizagem, que foram construídos durante as atividades, contribuíram para uma melhor compreensão dos conceitos trabalhados, inclusive oportunizando a revisão de outros conceitos da Matemática. Além disso, as atividades também oportunizaram a discussão de temas transversais. O trabalho apresenta como produto final o material elaborado e aplicado neste estudo e que poderá ser utilizado por professores na realização de atividades semelhantes para o Ensino de Estatística. / This work aims to show a proposal for teaching Statistics at 8th and 9th grades of Elementary School, finding-out how it develops the teaching this science at school level and that the contribution of Statistics for learning of Mathematics and contribute to the critical formation of students. For this, we developed and applied an instructional sequence, which involved conduct of research by students, with subjects of their interests. The class, in which we developed this work, is part of the Elementary school of Osório city. The research methodology used was the Case Study and the theoretical reference is based on Mathematical Modeling of Barbosa and the purpose of “Investigative Scenarios” of Skovsmose. The students’ performance during class, like the interest and participation in activities, demonstrated that the proposal is valid and adequate for the teaching of Statistics in the Elementary School. It was verified that the Learning Environment, that were built during the activities, contributed to a better understanding of the concepts worked, in order providing opportunities to review other concepts of Mathematics. In addiction, the activities also contribute for the discussion of transversal subjects-matters. The work presents the material as a final product that was applied in this study and may be used by teachers in carrying out similar activities for teaching Statistics.