THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MATHEMATICS SUPPORT GROUP PROJECT IN THE PERIOD 2010-2020: MAIN ACTIONS AND RESULTS

Abstract

It is undeniable that the Brazilian federal universities have, in the last two decades, gone through a period of profound transformations. Through the implementation of the Federal Universities Restructuring and Expansion Plan, significant investments were made, aiming at expanding students' access and permanence in Federal Higher Education Institutions. The creation of new courses and the opening of new vacancies invited these institutions to implement new actions, aiming to offer support to incoming students. At the Federal University of Pelotas, a group of teachers created, in 2010, the GAMA Project: Support Group in Mathematics, with the initial objective of supplying deficiencies in mathematical learning from the elementary and high school levels, as well as helping students' mathematical learning throughout graduation. This research aims to present and analyze the main fronts of action and the main results obtained in the period from 2010 to 2020. The data collection was based on the annual reports and publications on the group's institutional page. It is, therefore, a documentary and longitudinal research. The results showed that in this period there was a significant diversification in the quantity and nature of the activities developed. Through teaching, research and extension activities, GAMA implemented new actions and added new teaching methodologies, promoting the culture of “learning to learn”. By providing support in mathematics to about 500 students per semester, on average, the group has been standing out for its role in the front line in combating evasion and retention and is currently considered an institutional strategic project.