Mathematics in nutritionists’ undergraduate: perceptions about the curriculum

Abstract

The domain of quantitative skills is vital for the daily practice of nutritionists, therefore, a familiarization with mathematics must be developed within its formative context. The objective of this study is to investigate the perceptions of nutritionists in practice and in undergraduation regarding the teaching of mathematics in the nutrition course, in terms of the disciplinary structure, the articulation between theory and practice and the training of professors. For this, 4 interviews were conducted with nutritionists at different stages of their careers, examined through Bardin's content analysis. The results revealed the strong presence of mathematics in most subjects, highlighting its relevance not made explicit by the curriculum text. The teaching of mathematics in the course is predominantly theoretical, abstract and little connected with nutritional practice. The lack of articulation between knowledge impairs students' perspective on the usefulness of mathematics and influences their motivation for learning. The insufficient pedagogical preparation of professors impacts the teaching of mathematics, leading to the adoption of approaches based on the transmission of contents, repetition and memorization. The area of undergraduation of professors who teach Mathematics is one of the factors that lead professors not to address the applicability of the subjects taught with the future profession. Mathematics professors need to consider the specificities and needs of the students' training area, understanding the language and contexts of nutrition, in order to teach mathematical topics relevant to this field.