Use of Digital Educational Resources for Learning Problem-Solving Competence in Mathematics

Abstract

Learning mathematics in secondary education is a recurring challenge due to low student motivation and the lack of innovative teaching strategies. In this study, the digital educational resource ZONAMATH was implemented as a methodological strategy to strengthen mathematical problem-solving competence in eighth-grade students in an educational institution in Montería, Colombia.
From a qualitative research-action approach, a series of interactive activities organized on a digital platform were designed and implemented, using tools such as Jclic, Kahoot, Genially and Educaplay. The research was developed in four phases: initial diagnosis, design of the digital resource, implementation and evaluation of the pedagogical impact. The participants were 30 eighth-grade students, who interacted with digital modules focused on solving mathematical problems through the use of educational technologies. The impact evaluation was carried out through surveys, classroom observations, and comparative analyses between the results of the diagnostic test and the final evaluation. The findings show that the use of digital educational resources increased students' motivation, participation, and academic performance in the mathematical problem-solving competition. A significant improvement in students' ability to identify, analyze, and solve mathematical problems autonomously was evidenced, which highlights the importance of integrating interactive digital tools in mathematics teaching.