Perceptions of Students on Introductory University Mathematics: Perspective Study on First Year Undergraduate Students

Kennedy Acheampong

doi:10.7176/jep/11-25-01

Abstract

This paper mainly sought to find out how students’ perceptions influence students in their introductory university mathematics: The perspective of first-year undergraduate students of the University of Cape Coast. Specifically, the study sought to find out first-year students’ perceptions about SHS mathematics and also to find out the perception students have about introductory university mathematics. The population size of the study was 600 students. The research design used was the descriptive survey and the stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample. A questionnaire was designed and used to collect the data. From our findings, it was established that students have a positive perception about SHS mathematics and the introductory university mathematics course. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that teachers are encouraged to use learner centered approach of teaching mathematics with little regard to the teacher centered approach since the former ensures active participation of students in the teaching-learning process and facilitates understanding while the latter makes students mere passive listeners Keywords: Perception, introductory, students, undergraduate and first-year DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-25-01 Publication date: September 30 th 2020

Highlights

The performance in mathematics among mathematics students has shown concern about the teaching of the discipline for some time (Ponte, Matos, Guimarães, Leal, & Canavarro, 1994)
Enrolment of students into mathematics discipline has recently seen an upswing but finding out what students feel about mathematics, what makes them want to study mathematics, how useful and relevant they feel the subject could be in their future careers, that is the perceptions students have about senior high school mathematics and more importantly the perception they have about university introductory mathematics may be crucial information that could shape the direction, nature, curriculum and pedagogy of mathematics teaching
9.1 Research Question One: What is the perception of first year mathematics students about Senior High School mathematics? Research question one sought to find out the perception of first year mathematics students about Senior High School mathematics

Summary

Introduction

The performance in mathematics among mathematics students has shown concern about the teaching of the discipline for some time (Ponte, Matos, Guimarães, Leal, & Canavarro, 1994). Enrolment of students into mathematics discipline has recently seen an upswing but finding out what students feel about mathematics, what makes them want to study mathematics, how useful and relevant they feel the subject could be in their future careers, that is the perceptions students have about senior high school mathematics and more importantly the perception they have about university introductory mathematics may be crucial information that could shape the direction, nature, curriculum and pedagogy of mathematics teaching Despite these being pressing concerns, there is still relatively little literature that seeks to establish perceptions students have about introductory university mathematics. They regarded Mathematics as "difficult, cold, abstract, and in many cultures, largely masculine" Ernest, (1996)

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Conclusion