A project is described that provides explicit instruction on the skills necessary for solving word problems. An informal inventory of such skills is being developed, intended for diagnostic use. It contains six sections, each keyed to the problem-solving skills of understanding the problem, representing the unknown, writing the equation, and…

This paper discusses the problems associated with mathematics anxiety, and provides detailed information on the history and structure of the Mathematics Anxiety Program at the University of Minnesota. The seven parts concern: (1) the Continuing Education for Women Program, (2) the development of the Math Anxiety Program, (3) the symptoms of…

This paper presents some ideas on how to utilize TI-83 Plus calculators to perform division of one polynomial (the divided) by another polynomial (the divisor) and how that procedure might be incorporated into a college algebra lesson. Four ways to obtain the quotient and remainder when dividing a polynomial by a first-degree polynomial are…

A program designed for students who enter the teacher education program with a strong academic background in mathematics is described. However, there is a significant gap between academic course completion and depth and breadth of understanding of mathematics. Teachers' practices reflect their view of mathematics. Therefore, students in the…

Peer-tutoring programs have been found to produce positive effects on student achievement. There has been relatively little research on the effects of tutor characteristics on the achievement of college students who receive tutoring. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the sex of tutors and students' sex on…

In 1981, a survey was conducted to determine the methods used in Arizona community colleges to place students in English composition courses. Questionnaires concerning placement practices were sent to 32 community college administrators, and 21 usable responses were returned. Study findings included the following: (1) while no college required an…

The purpose of this paper was to provide professors of research methodology and statistics with an annotated bibliography of articles that can be used to teach a particular statistical technique as well as to illustrate specific concepts in research methodology. By using these articles in intermediate and advanced statistics classes, instructors…

Focusing on the question that is being discussed in a mathematics lesson is suggested as an approach to teaching developmental mathematics at the college level. Ways in which students can be involved with the question are described. First, some contagious cliches that are used by students are given. Then a few antidotal aphorisms and educational…

Research supports the premise that various mathematical topics can be categorized as being performed better by the left or right brain hemisphere. This study examined the effect of left and right brain hemispheric lateralization exercises upon course grades in two sections of Analysis I (beginning calculus for mathematics/science majors) at a…

Noting the growing interest in how writing activities might complement current teaching techniques and improve learning in mathematics, this paper presents a progress report on the use of writing assignments in freshman precalculus courses at a Minnesota university. The paper first presents a rationale for this teaching technique and the original…

The purpose of this paper was to identify the role of several person variables (gender, mathematics competency, attitudes toward statistics, computer competency, and grade point average) contributing to success in introductory statistics. The performance of 103 students on four examinations during a semester constituted the dependent variable. A…

Research supports the premise that various mathematical topics can be categorized as being performed better by the left or right brain hemisphere. Hemispheric lateralization is defined as a learner's preferred hemisphere of control. Torrence's "Human Information Processing Survey" was given to 170 black female college students enrolled in…

Results of the most recent administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) suggest that the majority of secondary students believe in the independence of random events. In the study reported here, a high percentage of high school and college students answered similar problems correctly. However, about half of the students…

Numerous research studies over the past five years indicate that a high percentage of college students have severe deficiencies in their ability to use mathematics as a language for representing simple quantitative relationships. In the United States these problems are nearly as common among students with strong computational skills in algebra and…

This study explored the relationship between students' high school mathematics courses and grades; the affective variables--mathematics anxiety, effectance motivation, and attitude toward success; and performance in the first quarter developmental studies algebra course. The study reports significant differences between males and females on…