Benefits Of A Tutorial Mathematics Program For Engineering Students Enrolled In Precalculus: A Template For Assessment
- Conference
- Location
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Honolulu, Hawaii
- Publication Date
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June 24, 2007
- Start Date
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June 24, 2007
- End Date
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June 27, 2007
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Mathematics
- Page Count
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11
- Page Numbers
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12.305.1 - 12.305.11
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--2584
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/2584
- Download Count
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898
Paper Authors
Janet Callahan
orcid.org/0000-0001-6665-1584
Janet Hampikian is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University. She received a Ph.D. in Materials Science, a M.S. in Metallurgy and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Her current research interests include freshmen engineering programs, recruitment and retention issues in engineering, biomedical device development and the development and characterization of biomaterials.
Joe Guarino Boise State University
Joe Guarino is a Professor in the Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Department at Boise State University. His research interests include simulation modeling for engineering education, vibrations, and acoustics.
Seung Youn Chyung Boise State University
Dr. Yonnie Chyung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Instructional and Performance Technology at Boise State University. She received her Doctor of Education degree in Instructional Technology from Texas Tech University, and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a specialization in Computer-based Education, from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. Her research interests have been focused on the development of self-regulated learning strategies for adult learners, and online teaching and learning. She is currently conducting research on retention issues in online distance education.
John Gardner Boise State University
John Gardner is Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Boise State University. He is also Director of the Hewlett Foundation funded Engineering Schools of the West Initiative at Boise State. His current research interests, in addition to engineering education, include dynamic systems and sustainable energy systems.
Amy Moll Boise State University
Amy J. Moll is Associate Professor and Chair of Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University. Amy received a B.S. degree in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana. Her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California at Berkeley. Following graduate school Amy worked for Hewlett Packard in San Jose CA and in Colorado Springs, CO. Amy's research interests include microelectronic packaging, particularly 3-D integration and ceramic MEMS devices.
Pat Pyke Boise State University
Patricia A. Pyke is the Director of Education Research for the College of Engineering at Boise State University. She oversees projects in freshman programs, math support, mentoring, outreach, and women’s programs. She earned a B.S.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley.
Cheryl Schrader Boise State University
Cheryl B. Schrader is Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boise State University. Dean Schrader has an extensive record of publications and sponsored research in the systems, control and engineering education fields. She recently received the 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from the White House for an enduring, strong and personal commitment to underrepresented engineering students and faculty
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Benefits of a Tutorial Mathematics Program for Engineering Students Enrolled in PreCalculus: A Template for Assessment
Abstract
An interactive online tutorial program (ALEKS) was the focus of an engineering course created to increase the success of engineering students in a Precalculus class. Engineering students were embedded in two Precalculus courses with other students. An assessment rubric for measuring the effect of ALEKS on Precalculus grades of engineering students was developed and tested. While some of the results were not statistically significant, ALEKS was shown to have a generally positive effect on the math grades of students enrolled in the engineering course.
Introduction
In fall 2006, the total undergraduate enrollment of Boise State University reached 16,017, of which 1,296 were enrolled in the College of Engineering. Approximately 61% of the university student body attends full-time. The fall 2006 freshman engineering enrollment is 440, in majors encompassing civil engineering, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, construction management and undeclared engineering. The first-time, full-time freshman retention rate for Boise State University is 64% for engineering students, and 63% overall.1 This is low when compared with the national average2 of all four-year institutions, 69% and provides strong motivation for investigating ways to increase freshman success.
This study focuses on helping students succeed in Precalculus, a 5-credit mathematics course, in which 84 first-semester engineering students were enrolled in fall 2006 (19% of the incoming freshmen engineering class). An additional 37 engineering students classified as non-freshmen also enrolled in Precalculus (transfer students, repeat takers, etc.). These 121 engineering students were enrolled in ten sections of Precalculus which had an average enrollment of 33 students per section, with engineering students thus comprising 28% of the overall Precalculus enrollment. In fall 2006, the Precalculus “success rate,” defined as being the percent of students receiving an A, B or C grade, compared with all students enrolled (including A, B, C, D, F, and withdrawn students), was 58%; 189 out of 326 enrolled students passed Precalculus.
In an effort to increase the retention of pre-Freshman engineering students, two sections of a 4- credit, non-compulsory engineering course, ENGR 110 were offered for engineering students that were co-enrolled in Precalculus. The University enabled the construction of two Learning Communities intended to foster student retention at the University level. Each section of ENGR 110 was paired with an introductory English course (ENGL 101) and a Precalculus section. Engineering students enrolled in Learning Communities were assured reserved spaces in specific sections of ENGR 110, Precalculus, and ENGL 101, ensuring that the same students are embedded within the same sections of each course.
Two of these Engineering Learning Communities were established, corresponding with each section of ENGR 110. Enrollment in the Learning Communities was accomplished through
Callahan, J., & Guarino, J., & Chyung, S. Y., & Gardner, J., & Moll, A., & Pyke, P., & Schrader, C. (2007, June), Benefits Of A Tutorial Mathematics Program For Engineering Students Enrolled In Precalculus: A Template For Assessment Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--2584
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