A major goal of this paper is to document changes that occurred in developmental mathematics classrooms in the community college setting when the graphing calculator (GC) Texas Instruments (TI)-83 was introduced to students. The six-week intervention was conducted during the section of Intermediate Algebra in the Community College Baltimore County…

Problem solving in mathematics incorporates abstract thinking skills, number logic skills, and a nearly endless list of other factors. One problem-solving task required in university-level mathematics courses is integration. This study investigated instructor presentation of a specific problem-solving strategy and whether it impacted performance…

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…

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…

This study was conducted to determine if use of discovery methods (multiple-choice generalization or written generalization) would have differential effects on mathematics achievement and attitudes of college students in remedial mathematics. No significant difference between the two was found. (MNS)

This study was designed to identify those females who are predicted to fall substantially below their male counterparts in mathematical participation and performance (female potential underachievers) and who are most in need of intervention procedures early in their college career. (Author/CE)

This paper describes the implications of constructivism both for what to teach and for how to teach. The first part discusses three approaches on what to teach: (1) relating mathematical knowledge to other knowledge; (2) checking for self-consistency; and (3) putting thinking before facts. The second part is on how to teach based on…

This study is a presentation of findings which indicate the relationship between performance scores on the Remedial Developmental Studies (RDS) mathematics curriculum and grades in a specific college level course in College Algebra for students enrolled at Tennessee Technological University. Results indicated that students who had completed the…

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…

Forty-eight students with no previous exposure to probability or statistics read one of three textbooks that varied in emphasis placed on rote and conceptual learning of basic elementary probability concepts. Findings, among others, show students who read textbooks emphasizing conceptual learning tended to be less sensitive to surface features.…

Outlines an instructional plan working within the existing structure of most colleges that produces higher levels of student achievement through the manipulation of time. Described are the objective-based unit design, group instruction, initial test, corrective procedures, and retest. Lists 10 references. (YP)

In Fall 2004, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) piloted a modeling-based approach to college algebra. This paper describes the course and an assessment that was conducted to determine the effect of this approach on student achievement in comparison to a traditional approach to college algebra. The results show that compared with their…

A number of studies have examined the relationships between noncognitive variables, such as academic self-concept and achievement expectancies, and subsequent academic performance. Results from a recent study indicated that noncognitive variables were more effective predictors of college chemistry grades than were admissions test scores or high…

This study examines the effectiveness of multiple methods of soliciting attributions. The Attributional Style Questionnaire, specific attributions, and causal dimensions are used to predict the grades and feelings of frustration of college algebra students. The results show that, contrary to current theoretical work, both specific attributions and…