ERIC Number: EJ797518
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Apr
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0731-9258
EISSN: N/A
Revising Basic Mathematics in a Network Environment: An Empirical Study with Finnish Technology University Students
Ketamo, Harri; Alajaaski, Jarkko
Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, v27 n2 p149-162 Apr 2008
A revising/replenishment study course in basic mathematics is experienced as being almost a necessity at the beginning of technology studies at the Tampere University of Technology, Pori, Finland. This is to avoid early dropouts in actual engineering mathematics courses. Experimental research on factors explaining successful revision of mathematical topics that employ a specially developed network environment resembling the globally recognized WebCT and the open source software package, Moodle, is reported in this article. In the years 2003 and 2004, a group of Finnish technology university first year students (n = 206) at the Tampere University of Technology, Pori, Finland, participated in a pilot study course in which they first revised basic mathematics employing a network environment and then they took an examination. The results showed a significant improvement in terms of the percentage of successful participants in the test. However, there were two general themes derived from the empirical data that can be seen as potential development targets: (a) impulsive behavior of the students and (b) their weak meta skills. (Contains 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Computer Software, Foreign Countries, Educational Technology, Mathematics Instruction, Technology Education, Engineering, Computer Uses in Education, Web Based Instruction, College Freshmen, Mathematics Skills
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. P.O. Box 1545, Chesapeake, VA 23327-1545. Tel: 757-366-5606; Fax: 703-997-8760; e-mail: info@aace.org; Web site: http://www.aace.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A