This study investigated the factors related to student retention in a comprehensive community college developmental education mathematics program. The purpose was to identify and describe these factors and to develop strategies for improving retention in the community college developmental education mathematics program. Tinto's 1975 model of institutional departure was employed to examine different factors relating to retention in developmental education mathematics courses. In accordance with established criteria, data were collected using the Institutional Integration Scale (IIS) and Students Existing Records (SER). The IIS survey instrument questionnaire was completed by 41 students from a sample of 56 developmental education students enrolled in college level mathematics, and the data thus collected were used for analysis. Data were analyzed using frequency count, percentage, and the chi-square statistical analysis with a significant level of 0.05. The analysis of the data showed that the responding sample was primarily white, females aged 18 to 45. Most of the respondents had high grade point averages, did not miss any developmental education mathematics classes, and attended extra curricular activities infrequently. More fathers than mothers of the sample population had received a college education. Academic goal commitment, institutional experience, academic involvement, and placement grades were not statistically significant factors influencing retention. Among the major findings were: Development education instructors appeared to make the difference, institutional experience, academic goal commitment, and placement grades did not appear to play a major role; the students' academic involvement beyond classes appeared negligible; age, gender, grade point average, and parental educational levels were not significant factors for student retention in developmental education mathematics courses. Although statistical evidence did not support reversal of the proposed null hypotheses, pertinent issues for further research were raised.

This study was designed to identify and examine certain individual factors that contribute to Louisiana Technical College (LTC) student success in Web-based developmental education (DE) courses among the academically underprepared students. The independent variables (IV) selected for this study included students' prior academic preparation (PAP), comfort with technology (CWT), interaction with faculty (IWF), and motivation (MOT). The dependent variable (DV) was students’ course success measured by their mid-term scores (MTSCORE). Research methodologies included correlational statistics using multiple and logistic regression, and t-test for group comparisons. Data were gathered through an online survey using SurveyMonkey.com from the DE students at LTC that use PLATO Web Learning Network using a survey instrument (WBLSS) designed by the researcher for this study. The study found two predictor variables, IWF and PAP, to be statistically significant and two variables, MOT and CWT, statistically not significant. Based on the IVs' combined identified relationship with the DV, the researcher designed a predictive model of LTC students' course success in Web-based DE courses. The model employed in this study explained 17% of the variance in the MTSCORE. For many academically underprepared students at LTC, college and career success first depend on their success in the DE courses. Therefore, identifying individual characteristics related to course success is the key to building academic success models for underprepared students at two-year colleges like the LTC.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the cognitive, metacognitive, affective and instructional constructs that influence students’ problem solving development in a community college Introductory Algebra course. The study addressed the lack of success that developmental mathematics students in a community college have in the Introductory Algebra course and in subsequent curriculum mathematics courses. Research suggests that the prevalent procedural-oriented instructional methodology used in most mathematics classrooms may be contributing to the lack of student success. The community college students (N = 140) in this study were enrolled in an Introductory Algebra course. The study investigated the relationships among the constructs self-regulation, students’ problem solving development, and instructional methods used in the Introductory Algebra course. A correlational design established the quantitative relationships among the constructs. The aim of this study was to heighten the awareness of both the cognitive and non-cognitive aspects of adult student learning, as well as, the importance of attending to the students’ conceptual understanding of mathematics.

Thesis advisor: Laura M. O'Dwyer / Students who take postsecondary remedial courses graduate from college at lower rates than other students, but the relationship between remedial education and college outcomes is not well understood. This study analyzes the association between remediation and the odds of degree attainment in two- and four-year colleges, after controlling for other student and institutional factors related to persistence. Using generalized multilevel mixed modeling, it examines variation in these relationships across institutional contexts. Data are drawn from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (2004/2009), a nationally representative sample that tracked students through interviews and transcript data for six years from their first enrollment. Additional institutional variables are incorporated from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Comparisons are made among remedial course subjects, higher and lower numbers of remedial courses taken, and different postsecondary credentials. For students who first enroll at a four-year college, this analysis finds that remediation has a negative association with completing a Bachelor's degree or higher, particularly among students who take remedial Mathematics or three or more remedial classes. While students at two-year institutions who take three or more remedial courses have lower odds of completing a certificate or Bachelor's degree, English as a Second Language coursework emerges as a positive factor for Bachelor's attainment in this population. By contrast, remediation has a positive relationship with attaining an Associate's degree but no higher for two-year college students. This relationship varies significantly across two-year institutions, but institutional factors are not predictive of the variation. No other significant cross-college variation is found in the relationships between remedial variables and outcomes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2017-03-30T12:19:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 LUCAS BERNARDES BORGES.pdf: 1145132 bytes, checksum: 5e58032996946d4ffd18cac9d0eb0a9d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-30T12:19:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LUCAS BERNARDES BORGES.pdf: 1145132 bytes, checksum: 5e58032996946d4ffd18cac9d0eb0a9d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-01 / The teaching of physics in the context of secondary education in Brazilian education, is in a worrying situation, since most students achieve little learning and thus has difficulty in incorporating the concepts studied at school to their reality. This research had as object the teaching of Physics and having theoretical foundation in the ideas of the Russian authorDavydov, sought to answer the question: what contributions Davydov theory to enhance learning concepts in physics for high school students? In search of the answer, a field survey was conducted with a qualitative approach, with teachers and students of the Integrated Technical High School in Technical Maintenance and Hardware Support of a federal public institution located in the state of Goias. The field research consisted of a didactic experiment with reference to elements of the Davydov theory in the context of the Newton's laws. Data were obtained through observations of teaching and learning process in the classroom, interviews with students and teacher, and diagnosis of student learning. In the analysis of the data sought to change signs in the learning and development of students' thinking in relation to the studied content. It was concluded that students have difficulty internalizing concepts and, when confronted with concrete problems involving Newton's laws, they tend to stay the concepts of their everyday experience; however, the study activity of these laws, as a theoretical concept, and taking on the task activities aimed at their sociocultural experience, students now have reasons to learn how to think theoretically these concepts, although not all have fully developed this kind of thinking. There was a reorientation of teaching and learning process, as there was little interaction and participation of students in classes and increase dialogue and interaction of the whole class as a whole. Although not everyone fully achieved the formation of theoretical thinking, all had changes in their way of understanding the laws of Newton, established relations with its rich sociocultural contexts, being active in using this knowledge to guide their social practices. It is also concluded that effect teaching anchored in this theory requires profound changes in knowledge and teacher practice in the management of the teaching and learning process. Although the data of this research and the analysis and deriving reflections are marked by the researched context, the participants of the research and the analysis of the investigator, may serve as a reference for the promotion of changes in teaching physics in high school, especially in referred to overcome the traditional teaching practices, which do not consider the motives of the student, their activity and socio-cultural experience, its development and acquisition of intellectual autonomy, also providing clues to changes in the training of Physics teachers. / O ensino de Física, no contexto do Ensino Médio na educação brasileira, encontra-se em uma situação preocupante, uma vez que a maioria dos alunos alcança pouca aprendizagem e, consequentemente, apresenta dificuldade na incorporação dos conceitos estudados na escola à sua realidade. Esta pesquisa teve como objeto o ensino de Física e, tendo fundamentação teórica as ideias do autor russo Davydov, procurou responder à seguinte questão: quais contribuições da teoria de Davydov para melhorar a aprendizagem de conceitos de Física por alunos do Ensino Médio? Na busca da resposta foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo, com abordagem qualitativa, com professor e alunos do Ensino Médio integrado ao curso Técnico em Manutenção e Suporte em Informática, de uma instituição pública federal situada no estado de Goiás. A pesquisa de campo consistiu em um experimento didático tendo como referência elementos da teoria de Davydov e como conteúdo as leis de Newton. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de observações do processo de ensino e aprendizagem nas aulas, entrevistas com alunos e professor, e diagnóstico da aprendizagem dos alunos. Na análise dos dados buscou-se indícios de mudanças na aprendizagem e no desenvolvimento do pensamento dos alunos em relação ao conteúdo estudado. Concluiu-se que os alunos apresentam dificuldade em interiorizar conceitos e, ao serem confrontados com problemas concretos envolvendo as leis de Newton, tendem a permanecer utilizando conceitos de sua experiência cotidiana; entretanto, na atividade de estudo dessas leis, como conceito teórico, e tendo na tarefa ações que contemplam a sua experiência sociocultural, os alunos passaram a ter motivos para aprender a pensar teoricamente esses conceitos, ainda que nem todos tenham desenvolvido integralmente esse tipo de pensamento. Houve uma reorientação do processo de ensino e aprendizagem, visto que havia pouca interação e participação dos alunos nas aulas, bem como elevação do diálogo e interação de toda a turma em seu conjunto. Embora nem todos tenham alcançado integralmente a formação do pensamento teórico, todos obtiveram mudanças em seu modo de compreender as leis de Newton, estabeleceram ricas relações com seus contextos socioculturais, mostrando-se ativos na utilização desse conhecimento para orientar suas práticas sociais. Concluiu-se também que efetivar o ensino ancorado nessa teoria requer mudanças profundas no conhecimento e na prática do professor, e na gestão do processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Apesar dos dados desta pesquisa, bem como as análises e reflexões deles decorrentes, sejam demarcados pelo contexto pesquisado, pelos participantes da pesquisa e pelas análises do pesquisador, podem servir de referência para a promoção de mudanças no ensino de Física no Ensino Médio, sobretudo no que se refere à superação das práticas pedagógicas tradicionais, que não consideram os motivos do aluno, sua atividade e experiência sociocultural, seu desenvolvimento e aquisição de autonomia intelectual, fornecendo também pistas para mudanças na formação de professores de Física.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T13:44:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MARILENE MARZARI.pdf: 13418260 bytes, checksum: dcf407aae6095bebd38d5d27d4195ffb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-15 / This study is inserted in didactics fields and its main objective is to analyze the contributions of the theory of developmental education for the formation of theoretical thinking in teaching, of the students who attend the Education-Degree Course in a private educational institution from Barra do Garças-MT, and prepare to be teachers in early childhood education and early years of elementary school. The theoretical framework which guided the study was based on Vygotsky s historical-cultural theory, Leontiev s activity theory and Davidov s developmental education theory, and other authors like Chaiklin, Lompscher, Hedegaard, among others who conduct research, at di{erent levels of education, in order to think of an education that helps students to develop a thought which exceeds that of formal logic. The qualitative research had as its procedures data collection, observation, interviews, document analysis and the achievement of a didactic-formative experiment. The observation made during the pedagogical week at the institution, and, more specifically, the investigated classroom, helped to understand what and how teachers and students think about the teaching and learning. The interviews with teachers and students directly involved with the research revealed important data about the didactic, especially in the case of a training course for teachers. The reading of the Institutional Development Plan revealed the political, administrative and educational intentions of the institution, as for the analysis of the Political Pedagogical Project from the Pedagogy Course helped especially in understanding the curriculum structure and course rules. The formative-teaching experiment developed with the students from the fourth semester of Pedagogy followed the structure of learning activity proposed by Davívov in which di{erent actions, operations and tasks were planned for each of the di{erent concepts that are considered necessary for the internalization, appropriation and reproduction of the essential in teaching, in this study, the teaching process. The analysis of the survey revealed that teachers, mostly blame the students for not learning enough and exempt themselves from the responsibilities of rethinking in a better form to organize the process, which is predominantly transmissive and it is based on the conception of a formal logic. Students, in turn, tend to accept well this teaching practice and hardly put themselves as active citizens in their learning process. If, on one hand, there is an academic background which results in a di{erent conception of teaching, on the other hand, the implementation of a formative- educational experiment shows that there are real opportunities to develop students cognitive thinking. For this reason, the teaching activities should start from a theoretical logic, i.e., from general to particular, from the collective to the individual, from abstract to concrete, designed in order to enable students to form the theoretical thought which is essential to the development of cognitive thinking. / Este estudo insere-se no campo da didática e tem como principal objetivo analisar as contribuições da teoria do ensino desenvolvimental para a formação do pensamento teórico, em didática, dos alunos que frequentam o Curso de Pedagogia-Licenciatura, em uma instituição de ensino privada de Barra do Garças-MT, e se preparam para ser professores na educação infantil e anos iniciais do ensino fundamental. A fundamentação teórica que norteou o estudo pautou-se na teoria histórico-cultural de Vygotsky, na teoria da atividade de Leontiev e na teoria do ensino desenvolvimental de Davídov., além de outros autores como Chaiklin, Lompscher, Hedegaard entre outros que realizam pesquisas, em diferentes níveis de ensino, com o objetivo de pensar em um ensino que ajude os alunos a desenvolver um pensamento que supere o da lógica formal. A pesquisa de natureza qualitativa teve como procedimentos de coleta de dados a observação, a entrevista, a análise documental e a realização do experimento didático-formativo. A observação realizada durante a semana pedagógica, na instituição, e, mais especificamente, na turma investigada, ajudou a compreender o que e como pensam os docentes e discentes em relação ao ensino e à aprendizagem. As entrevistas com as professoras e alunas diretamente envolvidas com a pesquisa revelaram dados importantes a respeito da didática, principalmente tratando-se de um curso de formação de professores. A leitura do Plano de Desenvolvimento Institucional revelou as intenções políticas, administrativas e pedagógicas da instituição, já a análise do Projeto Político Pedagógico do Curso de Pedagogia auxiliou na compreensão, principalmente da estrutura curricular do curso e das ementas. O experimento didático-formativo desenvolvido com as alunas do IV semestre do Curso de Pedagogia seguiu a estrutura da atividade de aprendizagem proposta por Davívov, na qual foram planejadas diferentes ações, operações e tarefas para cada um dos diferentes conceitos que se julgou necessário para a interiorização, apropriação e reprodução do essencial da didática, neste estudo, o processo de ensino. A análise da pesquisa revelou que os professores, em sua maioria, responsabilizam os alunos pela pouca aprendizagem e se isentam das responsabilidades de repensar uma melhor forma de organizar o processo, que é predominantemente transmissivo e se fundamenta na concepção da lógica formal. Os alunos, por sua vez, tendem a aceitar bem essa prática de ensino e dificilmente se colocam como sujeitos ativos em seu processo de aprendizagem. Se, de um lado, se tem uma formação acadêmica que resulte numa outra concepção de ensino, de outro, a realização do experimento didático-formativo mostra que existem possibilidades concretas de desenvolver o pensamento cognitivo dos alunos. Para isso, as atividades de ensino devem partir de uma lógica teórica, ou seja, do geral para o particular, do coletivo para o individual, do abstrato ao concreto pensado a fim de que os alunos formem o pensamento teórico imprescindível ao desenvolvimento do pensamente cognitivo.

Computer-based instruction including distance learning is fast becoming an integral part of higher education. Much of the current research has found that computer-based instruction is as effective as lecture-based instruction. Despite the wealth of studies that purport that students enrolled in computer-based instruction perform equally well as compared to their lecture-based counterparts, there is a high dropout rate associated with computer-based instruction including distance learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in students' withdrawal and completion rates in classes delivered via different instructional formats (distance learning, hybrid, or traditional) to determine if student learning style and/or student reasons for choosing an instructional format have an effect on the dropout rate in a remedial mathematics course. This non-experimental quantitative study employed logistic regression to estimate the probability of withdrawal from a Basic Algebra (MAT 0024) course based on student learning style, student reasons for selecting the instructional format, and CPT scores. Learning styles and their relationship to completion status within the three instructional delivery formats were examined. It was determined that those students who were enrolled in a hybrid or distance learning course had greater odds of withdrawing as compared to students enrolled in a lecture-based course. It was also determined that learning style did not impact the completion or withdrawal of students regardless of the delivery format. Student reasons for enrolling in a particular delivery method and the relationship to completion or withdrawal within the three instructional delivery formats was also examined. It was determined that those students who enrolled in the course based upon personal factors had greater odds of completing the course without distinction to a particular instructional delivery method. Those students who enrolled in the course because of their perceived learning needs had greater odds of withdrawing from the course without distinction to a particular instructional delivery method. CPT scores and their relationship to completion or withdrawal within the three learning styles were examined. Based on the data, there is no relationship between students' CPT scores and their withdrawal or completion in a particular delivery format.

Although many academically underprepared students are able to attend community colleges via open access policies, these students struggle with completing their degrees. At a rural community college in the southeastern United States, students who tested into developmental education courses have struggled more with persistence and completion than have their college-ready counterparts. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to evaluate the influence that student coaching had on student success in developmental math at this community college. Tinto's dropout theory and Astin's engagement theory provided the theoretical framework for a study of 62 developmental math students who were offered student coaching services during the course. Multiple one-way ANOVAs were performed to determine if student coaching had any influence on the dependent COMPASS test scores based on students' level of participation with the service. Students who participated in 0-2 coaching sessions (n = 32) had statistically significantly lower COMPASS test scores than students who participated in 3 or more coaching sessions (n = 30). None of the demographic characteristics had an effect on coaching participation. An evidence-based project designed to enhance coaching participation is offered to increase student persistence and completion. Implications for positive social change include increased success rates in developmental courses which should lead to increased persistence. Positive social change occurs when students are able to achieve incremental successes in their developmental courses, which could better leverage them to achieve subsequent higher education goals of degree completion and to pursue careers with better salaries associated with higher education completers.

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the experiences of developmental mathematics students who, after successful completion of their developmental courses, chose a career in teaching and to gain a better understanding of how those experiences helped shape their decision to go forward with a career in mathematics education. With the intention of exploring the text and the context of the experiences of former developmental mathematics students as they have reflected on them and storied them so as to make meaning of them, I determined that a qualitative methodology was indicated; and the qualitative method selected was narrative analysis. Altogether 13 respondents met the criteria and were interviewed. Interviews conducted during the spring and early summer of 2008 were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for data relevant to the goals of this study. Analysis revealed that developmental mathematics students not only have the capacity to become competent students but they have the potential of becoming outstanding teachers and scholars. This potential is closely tied to affective qualities, such as self-efficacy, which are often profoundly impacted and enhanced by a teacher or mentor. The developmental student who has chosen a career in education frequently views the teacher/mentor as (i) a role model who he/she desires to emulate thereby extending that profound impact, and/or as (ii) a hero for whom future endeavors are viewed as a form of payback. The narratives also revealed that women developmental students typically had greater struggles and difficulties in meeting their educational goals because they bore the responsibility for caring for children and, in most cases, for their family?s financial support. Areas of study that warrant further investigation were uncovered while doing this research and include (i) an identification of teaching methodologies that both enhance mathematics capability and also bring a greater self-awareness of the increased capability, (ii) a determination of the impact of faculty/institutional behaviors and attitudes on adult developmental mathematics students who dropped out of their programs and did not complete their college education, (iii) the characteristics of the educational experiences of single mothers who passed through developmental mathematics and on to the teaching profession, and (iv) a deeper understanding of the teacher recruitment potential of cooperative learning groups, tutoring centers, and supplemental instruction.

In order to close the achievement gaps between traditionally underserved groups and their peers, institutions of higher education must make developmental education a priority by implementing college-wide strategies inside and outside the classroom to help underprepared students succeed. Since community colleges offer educational opportunities to anyone seeking to further their education, and hence serve the majority of underprepared college students, it is difficult to overstate the importance of assessing and strengthening the quality of educational practices for developmental students at these institutions. Assessing the extent to which underprepared college students are actively engaged in meaningful educational experiences, and the relationship between engagement and student outcomes, will help college leaders and policymakers implement research proven engagement strategies to help a population of students that has been historically underserved attain academic success and reap the societal and economic benefits of higher education. Relationships between engagement and three critical outcomes for underprepared college students were investigated: developmental sequence completion, subsequent college-level course performance, and attainment. Similar to studies conducted on the four-year sector, the present study found similar effects of engagement on developmental students attending community colleges. While generally having a positive effect on outcomes, engagement has been proven to have compensatory effects for students which have been typically underserved including minority, nontraditional age, and first-generation students. The present study found that the impact of engagement varies according to student characteristics and level of developmental course need and subject area. Further, the study suggests that certain types of engagement can have greater influence on students which characteristically are least likely to earn a college degree. / text