A Classroom activity to work with real data and diverse strategies in order to build models with the help of the computer

Dealing with pseudo-mechanistic models, which are continuous and empirical models where the parameters involved have a meaning according to the context where they are applied, has an added value. The aim of this study was to design a set of tasks to be performed with the help of the computer and implement them in the classroom in order to investigate a real data set with empirical models and pseudo-mechanistic models. A framework showing different strategies to tackle these data, and how they generate a variety of plausible responses to the problem, was configured. The sequence and structure of these tasks jointly with the help of appropriate computer resources, according to the students ’perceptions, enhanced the understanding of the construction and use of these modelsPostprint (published version