DIGITAL EDUCATION IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS.

Exponential and logarithmic functions have always been part of high-school math's curricula in Portugal. They are subjects in which students experience many difficulties, in understanding and applying their properties. Several authors argue that there is a need to improve the way these functions are taught, shifting the focus from simply performing calculation procedures to understanding them. It is recognized in the literature that one of the areas of knowledge that can benefit from the use of Information and Communication Technologies is mathematics. In this context, digital educational resources (DER) have been developed, taking advantage of the functionalities of the GeoGebra dynamic geometry software relating to the study of functions. Therefore, the aim of this research is to understand how students overcome their difficulties by working collaboratively in small groups and carrying out activities with exploration tasks, supported by the use of GeoGebra, in the learning of exponential and logarithmic functions. In this article we present a study carried out in a twelfth grade class at a school in the north of Portugal. The study favored the use of a qualitative, interpretive methodology. To this end, the following data collection techniques were used: enquiry, observation and document analysis. Data analysis points out to a consistent evolution in the students' performance since the beginning of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]