This case study was an investigation of the role of the institutional culture of a university in the process of changing to reform-based practices for two college mathematics professors. A framework is presented for identifying and analyzing institutional norms and policies that are present and those lacking in supporting faculty efforts toward…

Retention and graduation rates of underrepresented minority students were studied during 1985-91 with first-time freshman cohorts at 67 U.S. colleges and universities. Data were also collected from 17 institutions for science, engineering, and mathematics (SEM) majors by race and gender. Research areas included: headcounts, average admission test…

College students' self-reported test anxiety levels in English, mathematics, physical science, and social science were compared to develop empirical support for the claim that students, in general, are more anxious about tests in rigorous academic subjects than in the humanities and to understand the curriculum-related sources of anxiety. It was…

Graphing calculators have been used in the mathematics classroom for speed, to leap hurdles, to make connections among representations, and to permit realism through the use of authentic data. In this study, a graphing calculator tutorial provided on the Casio FX1.0 and FX2.0 PLUS models was found to serve a fifth purpose, improving manipulative…

In February 1986, the Professional Concerns Subcommittee of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) conducted a survey to assess the availability and preparation of two-year college mathematics faculty. Questionnaires were distributed to mathematics chairs at 950 two-year colleges nationwide, requesting information on…

The number of undergraduate credit hours taken in the sciences, engineering, and engineering technology, and in four major humanities fields (English, history, modern languages, and philosophy) for the fall semester, 1980-1981 was studied, based on a survey of 65 colleges and universities that are members of the American Council on Education's…

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in math achievement of students taught in an interactive television (ITV) class setting with the instructor present (host site), students receiving instruction via television at an off-campus location (remote site), and students taught in a traditional classroom setting. The…

A study of 114 full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty of history, psychology, mathematics, and biology investigated the relationship between scholarly productivity and 4 norms of teaching. It was found that faculty recognize and acknowledge norms that support teaching, while simultaneously participating in expected research activities. In…

A study at a university with strong mathematics/science curricula found that at matriculation, women and men had similar high school rank, women had lower mathematics test scores; most majored in science or engineering; women had higher undergraduate degree completion rates at four years; and grade point averages differed little. (MSE)

While written comments are a popular and potentially effective method of student exam feedback, these comments are often overshadowed by students' focus on their grades. In this paper I discuss the additional use of orally recorded exam feedback in introductory statistics classes of 40 or fewer students. While grading and writing comments on a…

A limited number of studies have examined the relationship between admissions test scores, academic background, and college mathematics outcomes. This study investigated the predictive relationship between high school achievement, admissions test scores, selected demographic variables, and grade performance in college mathematics for 5,212 college…

In an effort to assess the effectiveness of its developmental studies program, Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio undertook a study of first-time college students who began their studies at the college in Fall 1991. The study sought to determine the relationship between level of remediation and retention, college-level English or math…

This monograph summarizes the data from a study designed to evaluate how university deans, department chairmen and faculty view teaching related activities. A methodological problem which limited the analysis of a similar, earlier study prompted the development and execution of this research. An introductory section describes the earlier flawed…

The Educational Technology Center (ETC) was established by the National Institute of Education in October, 1983, in order to find ways of using the computer and other information technologies to teach science, mathematics, and computing more effectively. This report describes the ETC, presents its framework for research, and summarizes work on 14…

The Educational Technology Center (ETC) was established by the National Institute of Education in October, 1983, in order to find ways of using the computer and other information technologies to teach science, mathematics, and computing more effectively. This report describes the ETC, presents its framework for research, and summarizes work on 12…