Bridging Mathematics Concepts To Engineering Contexts: Just In Time Review Modules
- Conference
- Location
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Louisville, Kentucky
- Publication Date
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June 20, 2010
- Start Date
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June 20, 2010
- End Date
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June 23, 2010
- 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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15.239.1 - 15.239.11
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--15775
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/15775
- Download Count
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961
Paper Authors
Dianne Raubenheimer North Carolina State University
Hatice Ozturk North Carolina State University
Dr. Hatice O. Ozturk received her PhD from NC State University, and is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering departments at North Carolina State University. In addition to teaching courses in the area of signals and
sytems and participating in curriculum development initiatives, she coordinates the assessment and accreditation activities in both departments. Her research interests include Interdisciplinary activities between College of
Engineering, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (Women's and Gender Studies,curriculum development and assessment, and biomedical image processing.
Alina Duca NCSU
Dr. Alina Duca received her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Manitoba, Canada. She held a one-year visiting position in the Mathematics Department at Vassar College in NY. She is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at NC State University. Dr. Duca's research interests are in the Non-commutative Algebra and Model Theory. More recently, she has been active in various
mathematics education projects, such as developing a calculus course for Elementary Education students, working on improving the engineering mathematics curriculum, and starting Math circles - a mathematics enrichment program -for enthusiastic and motivated middle school students.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Bridging mathematics concepts to engineering contexts: Just-in- time review modules
Abstract
The basic problem addressed in this paper is that many engineering students do not remember the essential mathematics skills and concepts they learned in earlier math courses when they enter higher level engineering courses, and yet they need to apply these earlier math abilities to advanced engineering coursework. The challenge facing the instructor is how to bring all students up to mathematical mastery level as quickly as possible at appropriate points during the semester when core mathematical skills are needed, including during the first week of class, so that they can be successful in achieving the required learning outcomes in engineering courses. It is a challenge because the typical response by the instructors to poor pre-test scores is to lose valuable class time doing review of the pre-requisite material.
In a junior level biomedical engineering course, students were given a diagnostic pre-test covering essential math skills and concepts on day one of the course. This focused on functional substitutions, graphing equations, complex algebra, and evaluating improper integrals. It was found that very few students achieved a passing grade on this test as they entered the engineering course. After the pre-test, students were directed to a set of review materials for them to study to refresh their knowledge and skills. They then undertook a second in-class test a week later. The overall results, detailed results by test question and student responses to a set of survey questions will be reported in this paper. We will also compare the performance of this group of students on a selected final exam question with the performance of students from previous years, on a similar question.
These experimental data show that providing students with review material at the beginning of a semester helps them to achieve mastery in essential mathematical knowledge and skills. Using this study as the prototype, we started to develop a series of just-in-time mathematics modules which will provide a bridge between targeted mathematics concepts and applied engineering problems. Students will complete these modules prior to encountering these topics in engineering courses. The starting point would be to assess their entry level of mathematical competence on specific topics and then, as appropriate to their level of competence to provide individualized mathematical review material (quizzes, video, review notes, animations practice problems, etc) in an interactive online system. So, we are looking at designing a process of test, individualized review, and re-test. Students would be expected to demonstrate mathematical competence after reviewing the material by taking an in-class test. The elements and functionality of such a technological tool will be described in the paper.
Key Words: Math for engineering, Calculus, Math review, student performance, pre-requisite knowledge and skills.
Raubenheimer, D., & Ozturk, H., & Duca, A. (2010, June), Bridging Mathematics Concepts To Engineering Contexts: Just In Time Review Modules Paper presented at 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition, Louisville, Kentucky. 10.18260/1-2--15775
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