The Effect of Heuristic Training When Solving a Fermi Problem at Primary School

The use of heuristic strategies to solve problems, and as a part of the modelling problem-solving process, has been traditionally studied. This chapter aims to analyse, by means of an exploratory and qualitative study, how an instruction in different heuristics effects elementary school students’ performance when they solve a Fermi problem. We have determined a performance rate defined in terms of progress through the modelling cycle, and of the absence of mistakes made in solving the problem. Also, this rate is complemented with an analysis of the different strategies that appear in the resolution. The results indicate that heuristics training could have a beneficial effect on mathematical and modelling competences in the context of the resolution of a Fermi problem.