scholarly journals Procepts and proceptual solutions in undergraduate mathematics 

Pythagoras ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 0 (72) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inderasan Naidoo ◽  
Belinda Huntley

This paper explores and promotes the notion of ‘procept’ in an undergraduate mathematics course in Linear Algebra for first year pure and engineering students. On the basis of students’ preference for procedural to conceptual solutions to mathematical problems, this paper augments the role of certain concepts in pure and applied mathematics, particularly in the problem‐solving approaches at the undergraduate level by providing novel solutions to problems solved in the usual traditional manner. The development of the concept of ‘procept’ and its applicability to mathematics teaching and learning is important to mathematics education research and tertiary pure and applied mathematics didactics in South Africa, welcoming the amalgamation of the theories developed at pre‐tertiary level mathematics with theorems and proof at the undergraduate level.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Sarat Singamneni

Building a technology-driven world appears to be the main motivational force behind students choosing to undertake engineering studies. The first year of engineering education plays a significant role in demonstrating sufficient mathematical and scientific rigor to satisfy these motivational factors. The common applied mechanics courses play a central role in achieving this. At the same time, a vast majority of students suffer from a lack of the necessary mathematical skills and analytical orientation for various reasons. Due to different educational philosophies and teaching pedagogies, a lack of proper integration between mathematics and applied mechanics is common. Several efforts were made to build better curriculum, teaching, and learning systems, resulting in widely varied solutions, but most of them require drastically different implementation approaches. With sufficient rigor in teaching and assessment, the first-year applied mechanics (common) courses designed for engineering students can solve students’ mathematical and motivational lapses and help bridge the gaps between pre-university and university education endeavours. This paper presents evidence supporting this argument. In particular, datasets collected from the direct experiences delivering the first-year static and dynamics courses to many students over the past decade and a half are analysed to establish the proposition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-111
Author(s):  
Rosalind McFarlane ◽  
Marta Spes-Skrbis ◽  
Anne Taib

This session reports on Monash University’s recently developed Let’s Chat program, delivered at three campuses as a modularised, peer learning opportunity for students from first year to PhD. Involving 3,591 student participants and facilitators in 2015 and 2016, the program responds directly to student feedback and recommendations. Let’s Chat maximises opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction with the aim of increasing participants’ confidence and competence in spoken English and intercultural communication. Informed by current trends in student-centred and peer-assisted learning theory, TESOL and intercultural communication, Let’s Chat is quickly establishing itself as an effective approach to supporting student participation, engagement and sense of belonging in diverse teaching and learning contexts and communities. The session presents a snapshot of the genesis of the program; an evaluation of its implementation; and a summary of emerging outcomes. The session also engages participants in a conversation about how this model might be replicated in other settings.


Author(s):  
Tripti Singh ◽  
Manish Kumar Verma ◽  
Rupali Singh

The purpose of this study is to see whether there is a relationship between emotional intelligence and academic achievement. The study respondents were B.Tech first year students from the Agra region. Sampling is stratified, making sure that gender, race, socioeconomic status, and abilities are appropriately represented. The respondents are given Emotional Intelligence Inventory (EII–MM), developed by S. K. Mangal and Shubhra Mangal. It consists of 100 items under four scales .The analysis suggests that there is a significant relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Achievement. IQ alone is no more the measure for success; emotional intelligence, social intelligence, and luck also play a big role in a person's success. This study contributes in acknowledging the fact that even engineering students’ academic achievements are attached with Emotional intelligence. Thus, teaching emotional and social skills only at the school level is not sufficient; this can be taught in engineering studies, as well for accomplishing high academic achievements.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (22) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Beatriz Elena Osorio-Vélez ◽  
Jaime Alberto Osorio-Velez ◽  
Luz Stella Mejía-Aristizabal ◽  
Gloria Eugenia Campillo-Figueroa ◽  
Rodrigo Covaleda

Se presentan los resultados del proyecto de investigación: “El papel de la actividad experimental en la enseñanza del electromagnetismo en la educación superior”. Su  objetivo fue diseñar una propuesta de enseñanza del electromagnetismo, basada en la actividad experimental que contribuya con el proceso enseñanza y aprendizaje a nivel universitario.  Para ello se trabajó con un grupo de estudiantes de ingeniería de dos  instituciones de Educación Superior: Institución Universitaria Pascual Bravo y la Universidad de Antioquia. Los estudiantes que hicieron parte de la propuesta, respondieron un cuestionario de cuatro preguntas sobre electromagnetismo.  Las preguntas fueron seleccionadas de acuerdo a investigaciones previas que sobre el mismo tema se realizaron en estudiantes que solamente habían realizado el curso teórico.  Los resultados de este último grupo, evidenció dificultades para explicar fenómenos relacionados con el electromagnetismo, mientras que el grupo de estudiantes que realizó el trabajo experimental, mostró una mejor comprensión del fenómeno, logrando estructurar y organizar sus explicaciones.ABSTRACT The results of the research are presented: "The role of experimental activity in teaching electromagnetics in higher education." Their goal was to design a proposal for teaching electromagnetism, based on the experimental activity that contributes to the teaching and learning process at the university level. To do this, we worked with a group of engineering students from two institutions of higher education: University Pascual Bravo Institute and the University of Antioquia. Students who were part of the proposal, a questionnaire of four questions on electromagnetism. The questions were selected based on previous research on the same topic were conducted in students who had just completed the theoretical course. The results of the latter group showed difficulty explaining phenomena related to electromagnetism, while the group of students who performed the experimental work, showed a better understanding of the phenomenon, managing to structure and organize their explanations.


Author(s):  
David Naylor ◽  
Scott S.H. Tsai

The general physics of how objects float is only partly covered in most undergraduate fluid mechanics courses. Although Archimedes’ principle is a standard topic in fluid statics, the role of surface tension in floating is rarely discussed in detail. For example, very few undergraduate textbooks, if any, mention that the total buoyancy force on a floating object includes the weight of the fluid displaced by the meniscus. This leaves engineering students without an understanding of a wide range of phenomena that occur at a low Bond number (the ratio of buoyancy to interfacial tension forces), such as how heavier-than-water objects can float at a gas-liquid interface. This article makes a case for teaching a more unified version of Archimedes’ principle, which combines the effects of surface tension and hydrostatic pressure in calculating the total buoyancy on floating objects. Sample problems at the undergraduate level and two classroom demonstrations are described that reinforce the basic science concepts.


Author(s):  
Sahil Saxena ◽  
Chirag Variawa

First-year undergraduate engineering students are exposed to numerous stressors, including high academic demands and adjusting to new social support networks. Positive adaptations through the use of personal resources e.g. resilience has been associated with improved well-being outcomes in literature. A sample of 8 first-year undergraduate engineering students was examined in terms of i) the prevalence of Eudaimonic Well-Being (EWB) and resilience and ii) the role of resilience on EWB. EWB was assessed using the Flourishing Scale and resilience was measured using the Brief Resilience Scale. Findings uncovered low prevalence of EWB and resilience in the study population. The means of both FS and BRS scores were found to be significantly lower in the study population, compared to findings from other empirical studies. No significant relationship was found between resilience and EWB. Areas for future research is discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-105
Author(s):  
Yee-Yong Lee ◽  
Su-Hie Ting

Measuring student readiness in online learning should also be of great concern to institutions, including all areas from their curricular development to the pedagogies they experience. Although there have been attempts at universities to develop online learning courses, students' readiness has yet to be investigated, particularly for engineering students who take a mix of theoretical and practical-based courses. This study evaluates the readiness of civil engineering students toward the implementation of online learning and their preferences and acceptance towards online instructional delivery and assessment methods. Ways for improvement are proposed in line with the students’ readiness to determine the best desirable practices and strategies for online pedagogy. Respondents are selected from first and final year students, to examine and compare their online learning perspectives. A survey questionnaire was used. Findings revealed that year one and year four students' readiness was relatively moderate for most of the components and relatively high for the components that involved hardware/software requirements and technology skills. Most respondents indicated a moderate acceptance level on online assessment, ranging from a mean score of 3.46 to 3.81. As online learning is gradually becoming another method for life-long and self-determined learning, findings from the study might help university educators to develop better online learning strategies, especially delivery methods and assessments, to help students cope with online teaching and learning.


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