Sex Differences in First-Year Algebra

1980 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 335-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane O. Swafford
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
First Year ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Algebra Students ◽  
Consumer Problem ◽  
Algebra Achievement ◽  
Computational Skill ◽  
Slight Advantage

The study investigated sex-related differences among first-year algebra students with respect to achievement, attitude, and consumer problem-solving skills. The subjects were 329 females and 294 males enrolled in first-year algebra courses in 17 schools across the country. In the fall, no sex-related differences were evident in arithmetic computational skill or attitude about the usefulness and enjoyment of mathematics. Males showed a slight advantage on consumer items. In the spring, no sex-related differences in algebra achievement were found; a decline in attitude was observed for both groups; and the differences on consumer exercises became more pronounced.

scholarly journals Developing science students’ metacognitive problem solving skills online

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan W. Hollingworth ◽  
Catherine McLoughlin
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
New England ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
First Year ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Structured Problems ◽  
Reflective Skills

<span>Technology is increasingly being harnessed to improve the quality of learning in science subjects at university level. This article sets out, by incorporating notions drawn from constructivist and adult learning theory, a foundation for the design of an online environment for the acquisition of metacognitive problem solving skills. The capacity to solve problems is one of the generic skills now being promoted at tertiary level, yet for many learners problem-solving remains a difficulty. In addition, there are few instances of instructional design guidelines for developing learning environments to support the metacognitive skills for effective problem solving. In order to foster the processes of metacognitive skills explicitly in first year science students, we investigated areas where cognitive support was needed. The aim was to strengthen the metacognitive and reflective skills of students to assist them in adopting strategies and reflective processes that enabled them to define, plan and self monitor their thinking during problem solving. In tertiary science, both well-structured and ill-structured problems are encountered by students, thus a repertoire of skills must be fostered. A model for supporting metacognitive skills for problem solving is presented in the context of an online environment being developed at the University of New England.</span>

scholarly journals New Physics Curriculum

2016 ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Lynn Moran
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Core Curriculum ◽  
New Physics ◽  
Undergraduate Teaching ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
The University ◽  
Physics Curriculum

Developing the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of students as rapidly as possible is a key requirement in improving learning outcomes at every stage of their degree. The Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool has entirely redeveloped years 1 and 2 of the undergraduate degree with a focus on students becoming independent learners as early as possible. The aims are to better integrate the undergraduate teaching provision and to complete the Institute of Physics core curriculum in years 1 and 2, in order to focus on research led teaching and independent projects in years 3 and 4. This new programme, entitled New Physics, starts in Welcome Week with the Undergraduate Physics Olympics and continues through the Year 1 Project (Mission to Mars) in the first week of semester one. The aim is to set the standard for collaborative achievement and introduce students to the way that physicists think. Innovative problem solving classes incorporating active learning such as peerassessment,group learning and exemplars designed to improve these skills andenhance the quality of learning among its first-year students have been introduced.

scholarly journals A Laboratory-Centered Approach to Introducing Engineering Students to Electric Circuit and Electric Systems Concepts

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyrus Shafai ◽  
Behzad Kordi
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
First Year ◽  
Computer Engineering ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Electrical Systems ◽  
Different Types

The teaching of electric circuit analysis traditionally involves problem solving to ensure understanding of analysis theorems, complemented by laboratory experience. When taught to first year Engineering students, this approach lacks a motivational component and presents difficulties due to the weaker mathematics and problem solving skills of first year students. This paper presents a laboratory-centered approach to introduce engineering students to electric devices and systems. Using open-ended design projects, students explore and construct different types of electrical systems. Laboratories are selected so as to develop student intuition in electrical concepts, scientific fundamentals, provide a historical background, and demonstrate systems-level design issues. Over the past three years in our Department, using this approach, increased student motivation and engagement has been observed, supported by a significant increase in Electrical and Computer Engineering enrollment.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING MATERIALS ALGEBRAIC EQUATION TO IMPROVE PROBLEM SOLVING

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sri Adi Widodo
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Numerical Methods ◽  
Algebraic Equation ◽  
Mathematical Problem ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
First Year ◽  
Algebraic Equations ◽  
Teaching Materials ◽  
Problem Solving Skills

Problem-solving skills are the basic capabilities of a person in solving a problem and that involve critical thinking, logical, and systematic. To solve a problem one-way necessary measures to solve the problem. Polya is one way to solve a mathematical problem. by developing teaching materials designed using the steps in solving problems Polya expected students could improve its ability to solve problems. In this first year, the goal of this study is to investigate the process of learning the hypothetical development of teaching materials. This study is a research & development. Procedure development research refers to research the development of Thiagarajan, Semmel & Semmel ie 4-D. Model development in the first year is define, design, and development. The collection of data for the assessment of teaching materials algebra equations conducted by the expert by filling the validation sheet. Having examined the materials of algebraic equations in the subject of numerical methods, reviewing the curriculum that is aligned with KKNI, and formulates learning outcomes that formed the conceptual teaching material on the material algebraic equations. From the results of expert assessment team found that the average ratings of teaching materials in general algebraic equation of 4.38 with a very good category. The limited test needs to be done to see effectiveness teaching materials on problem-solving skills in students who are taking courses numerical methods

Psychology of Computer Use: X. Effect of Learning Logo on Children's Problem-Solving Skills

1989 ◽  
Vol 64 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1327-1337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Poulin-Dubois ◽  
Catherine A. McGilly ◽  
Thomas R. Shultz
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Computer Use ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Computer Programming ◽  
Computer Language ◽  
Procedural Skills ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Tower Of Hanoi ◽  
Problem Solving Strategies

A natural experiment was used to determine whether learning the computer language Logo improves children's problem-solving strategies outside of the Logo context. 8-yr.-olds who learned Logo in school were found to use both debugging techniques and procedurality in their computer programming. They and a group of control children of the same age were pre- and posttested on a game requiring debugging skills (Mastermind) and another game requiring procedural skills (Tower of Hanoi). Boys, but not girls, trained in Logo showed an improvement in debugging skills relative to the control children. Improvement in procedural skills was not related to training in Logo. The results were discussed in terms of distance of transfer, degree of expertise, and the basis of sex differences in computer programming.

Problem solving skills of the 1st year and 4th year nursing students

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 883-883
Author(s):  
Y. Sayin ◽  
M. Farimaz
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Education ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Nuclear Family ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Problem Solving Skills

IntroductionOne of the objectives of nursing education is helping nursing students acquire the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to deal with various problems.ObjectivesThe study is descriptive.AimsTo determine the “problem solving skills” of the 1st-year and 4th-year students.MethodsThe study is a descriptive one. The study sample comprised a total of 153 students in their 1st-year and 4th-year in Department of Nursing, Cumhuriyet University, Turkey. The research data were collected by means of the “Personal Information Form” developed in light of the relevant literature review and the “Problem Solving Inventory” which was developed by Heppner and Peterson (1982) and tested in Turkey in 1990 by Taylan in terms of fist validity-reliability properties.ResultsOf the first year students, 84.9% lived in a nuclear family, 61.6% lived in a city, 39.5% were first-born children. Of the fourth year students, 81.0% lived in a nuclear family, 67.2% lived in a city, 37.3% were first-born children. All of the students financial needs were met by their parents. There was no difference between the total “problem solving confidence” scores of the first year students (85.942 ± 16.649) and the fourth year students (81.866 ± 19.168) (p > 0.05). According to the sub-scales of the inventory, the first year students received higher scores than the fourth year students in “problem solving confidence”, “approach-avoidance behavior” and “personal control” (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe education received by the students did not make a difference in the development of their problem solving skills.

scholarly journals Constructing mental diagrams during problem-solving in mathematics

Pythagoras ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vimolan Mudaly
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Real Life ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mental Images ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Mathematics Problem Solving ◽  
Life Issues ◽  
Problem Solving Process ◽  
The Given

In mathematics, problem-solving can be considered to be one of the most important skills students need to develop, because it allows them to deal with increasingly intricate mathematical and real-life issues. Often, teachers attempt to try to link a problem with a drawn diagram or picture. Despite these diagrams, whether given or constructed, the student still individually engages in a private discourse about the problem and its solution. These discourses are strongly influenced by their a priori knowledge and the given information in the problem itself. This article explores first-year pre-service teachers’ mental problem-solving skills. The emphasis was not on whether they solved the problems, but rather on their natural instincts during the problem-solving process. The research shows that some students were naturally drawn to construct mental images during the problem-solving process while others were content to simply leave the question blank. The data were collected from 35 first-year volunteer students attending a second semester geometry module. The data were collected using task sheets on Google Forms and interviews, which were based on responses to the questions. An interpretive qualitative analysis was conducted in order to produce deeper meaning (insight). The findings point to the fact that teachers could try to influence how students think during the problem-solving process by encouraging them to engage with mental images.

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