Un estudio exploratorio sobre heurísticas en estudiantes de un curso de matemática de nivel pre-universitario

it is presented an exploratory study that aimed at characterizing the heuristic strategies, spontaneously used to solve mathematical problems, present in students of a pre-university course (curso de aprestamiento universitario, cau) which took place at nacional university of general sarmiento (argentina). along this course students worked with problems, but the teacher did not teach heuristics intentionally. the theoretical framework of this research is problem solving, as a theorical line in mathematical education whose principal researchers are polya and schoenfeld, among several others. with a qualitative metodology a test was applied and interviews were held. the results were analysed using cathegories referred to heuristics that were previously stated in the theoretical framework. some of the main results show that the subjects used some heuristics that, although were not taught, are promoted by the tasks, like heuristics related with exemplification, use of different semiotic representation registres and analogy. although heuristics useful to plan tasks were not found. it is proposed here a future study to promote the teaching of these last ones in a new research that involve a greater quantity of students.