Comparative assessment of academic performance in Mathematics of college freshman civil engineering students: Inputs to numeracy enhancement extension project

Ma Leah I Abad

doi:10.17485/ijst/v13i33.866

Abstract

Objective: To determine the profile of the freshman civil engineering students in Eastern Visayas State University, Philippines; to determine the mathematics performance of the students in the diagnostic test; to determine the performance of the students in the paper-and pencil test; to identify the difference in performance of the students in the paper-and pencil test when grouped according to profile variables; to determine the difference in the performance of the students in Diagnostic Test when grouped according to profile variables; and to propose a numeracy enhancement extension project based on the result of the study. Methods: This study used a comparative research design and involved 131 civil engineering students. Findings: Based on the results of the study, the following conclusion were drawn: Majority of the freshman students in civil engineering program are graduates from public Senior High Schools in Tacloban City under the STEM track, a number of them failed in algebraic expressions, equations, straight lines, conics, and trigonometry during the diagnostic test while they performed better in math enhancement and differential calculus when grouped according to the senior high school they graduated from, type of school, and track. The performance of students in diagnostic test when grouped according to senior high school from which they graduated was found significant, while performance of students in diagnostic test when grouped according to the school type were found not significant. Finally, the performance of the students in math enhancement in the paper and pencil tests when grouped according to profile variables was found significant when grouped according to senior high school they graduated from but not significant when grouped according to school type and track. Keywords: Mathematics performance; numeracy enhancement; comparative assessment

Highlights

The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship
This study described the performance of STEM both for mathematics enhancement (STEM) and non-STEM students in the paper and pencil tests in mathematics enhancement and differential calculus
The presentation of the results follows the arrangement of the objectives of the study, to wit: profile of the freshman civil engineering students; performance of the students in the diagnostics test in Mathematics in algebraic expressions, equations, straight lines, conics, trigonometric functions; difference in the performance of the students in the paper-and-pencil test according to the profile variables; and difference in the performance of the students in the diagnostic test according to profile variables

Summary

Introduction

The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School [SHS]) to provide sufficient time for mastery of concepts and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship. The academic track that prepares them for college injects vital knowledge, skills, and subjects to tailor their course. Senior high school graduates develop an academically prepared mind and a routine that makes them collegeready. Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are intertwining disciplines when applied in the real world. One can become a pilot, an architect, an astrophysicist, a biologist, a chemist, an engineer, a dentist, a nutritionist, a nurse, a doctor, and a lot more. One can become a pilot, an architect, an astrophysicist, a biologist, a chemist, an engineer, a dentist, a nutritionist, a nurse, a doctor, and a lot more. (1)

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