Software Environments supporting and enhancing Systemic Thinking’, Proceedings of Cerme 3 (Third Conference of the European Society for Research

In this paper Systemic Thinking is considered as a general philosophy that, by suggesting a “thinking globally, but acting locally ” approach, can represent a major paradigm shift in how we view the world. After dwelling on the characteristics of Systemic Thinking and its importance in Mathematics, we analyse whether, how and why a widely diffused mathematical application software (Excel), implemented as a general problem solving tool, involving low-medium level mathematical knowledge, could play the role of mediator in supporting and creating the conditions for Systemic Thinking development. We maintain also that a particular microworld (Cabri), implemented in research environments for problem solving activities in a very specific mathematical topic, can play the same role. 1