Course Performance of Marine Transportation in Celestial Navigation (NAV4 233L3) Using Mathematical Processes: Basis for Course Enhancement

Abstract

The study determined the course performance of the 2nd Year Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation students of Asian Institute of Maritime Studies enrolled during the 3rd Trimester of School Year 2021-2022 in Celestial Navigation (NAV4 233L3) course. To know the course performance, mathematical processes was evaluated by answering a self-assessment questionnaire. The content of the survey was inspired by the mathematical framework created by of the Department of Science and Technology with the Philippine Council of Mathematics Teacher Education, Inc. .The mathematical processes assessed in the study were: Problem Solving Skills, Communicating Mathematically, Math Reasoning and Making Math Connections. There were 173 samples taken using Slovin’s formula with 5% level of significance. Embedded mixed method was applied to conduct the study. The grades of the respondents in NAV 3 and NAV4 233L3 is being correlated to find if the grades have significant relationship using Pearson correlation by running SPSS version 29. It yielded that the grades in NAV 3 and NAV4 233L3 has positive weak correlation, r=.244, p<.001. Thus, there is a significant relationship between the two grades, therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. The mean of the course performances applying math processes was compared when grouped according to the profile of the respondents. The Analysis of Variance was the statistical treatment applied utilizing SPSS. There is no significant differences with the means of the course performances applying mathematical processes when grouped according to age, gender and Senior High School strand because the p value are all greater than .05 so null hypothesis was accepted. Under the thematic qualitative method, the sharing of interests and of difficulties of the respondents were analyzed. The answers under the interests of the respondents were grouped into three themes: Problem Solving is interesting; NAV4 233L3 has interesting topic/s; and Interesting Laboratory Activities: Using Nautical Almanac, Marine Sextant and Sight Reduction Table. On the other hand, the difficulties the respondents had when studying NAV 4 233L3 was also summarized into three themes: NAV4 233L3 is not difficult: the Instructors discussed the topics well; Crucial in NAV4 233L3:Problem Solving; and NAV4 233L3 Mathematics Connections is Hard: Plotting, Completing Tables and Math Equations.