Exploring Affine Functions and Cryptography: Reflections and Outcomes of a Pedagogical Workshop

Abstract

Cryptography, essential to digital security, is a compelling topic for connecting affine functions with real-life situations and sparking students’ interest in mathematics. This experience report analyzes a workshop conducted with 9th-grade middle school and 3rd-year high school students, which used cryptography to teach affine functions in a contextualized way. Through questionnaires administered to students and observations made by the teacher responsible for the workshop, the effectiveness of the proposal was evaluated. The results indicated that the contextualized approach, linking the concept of affine function to the history and operation of cryptography, facilitated content comprehension, especially in middle school, where greater engagement was observed. In high school, however, the incorporation of technology is suggested as a strategy to enhance motivation. It is concluded that, due to its presence in everyday life, cryptography is a promising theme for making mathematics teaching more dynamic and meaningful.