Remedial Tutorials for Differential Equations

Abstract

Many factors may contribute to students not making the grades of a course. More so daunting if the course(s) of concern are prerequisites to other higher-level courses. The compulsory core Differential Equations EBB1113 course is that hurdle for some first semester engineering undergraduates at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. These students do not fulfill the minimum passing grade and are required to repeat the entire course. Redoing it means having to attend lectures and tutorials all over again. What could be the best approach to tackle the situation so that these students do not repeat the same mistakes and fail again? The objective of this study is to discuss several steps taken up by the instructor with full support for change from the management that could provide some insights as to the efforts made to manage the challenges faced. The students face the tasks of overcoming factors of inferiority complex and disorientation, doing and repeating the same mistakes. The instructor faces the tasks of boosting motivation to the now less motivated individuals who will be attending lectures together with their juniors, and to design an alternative approach in creating a desired difference while fulfilling the continuous quality improvement that is required of the university. A special 2-hour tutorial session, workbook-based learning is reserved and conducted weekly for 10 consecutive weeks. The outcomes of the effort, although not a total desired 100% was an encouraging 92.9% rescue success rate. The results also include what the students have to say after passing the final exams. The comments and recommendations offered by these students after going through the learning experience are important for a continuous quality improvement.