Abstract: Background: Biliran Division, like many other divisions within the Philippines has always remained true to its mission and vision in upholding just and quality education for all Filipino learners. This study would provide a solid evidence for curriculum developers, supervisors, and Mathematics teachers to ponder on the STEM students’ difficulties which can influence their mathematical skills. Thus, the general purpose of this study was to determine the difficulties met prior to Functions as a prerequisite to Basic Calculus.
Methods: This study utilized mixed quantitative and qualitative method. There were 58 participants who were included from this study. The students were given a validated researcher-made test questionnaire that underwent pilot testing, checking process and finalizing of the questions by the co-researchers from the public school teachers and the research adviser. After the test, the participants were interviewed. The transcripts underwent content analysis and peer debriefing.
Result: The study reveals that the STEM students had a poor Language skill and Arithmetic skill. In a specific sub-skill in Language skill—understanding the objective—obtained 63.8% of the population while sub-skill in Arithmetic skill—Procedural knowledge— obtained 51.7%, thus considered as the critical point among the identified 4 skills.
As the result of the content analysis of the students’ response during their interview, the result shows a positive alignment of the result of the data analysis as students had a difficulty of understanding the objective and the difficulty of solving a problem which is in line with poor of language skills and Arithmetic skills respectively.
Keywords: Functions, Basic Calculus, STEM, Procedural knowledge, Number fact skill, Arithmetic skill, Information skill, Language skill.
Title: FUNCTIONS AS PREREQUISITE TO BASIC CALCULUS: WHAT MATHEMATICAL SKILLS CAUSE STEM STUDENTS’ DIFFICULTIES?
Author: DONNEL JAY E. TAMBIS
International Journal of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-5736 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
