Lerning-difficulties-in-math-subjects.docx

LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN MATH SUBJECTS AMONG CEA STUDENTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

A Research Paper Presented to Prof. Elmer Brabante Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa, Manila

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course ENGL 1023 – Writing in the Discipline

By Krizza Mher T. Asuncion Ralph Ryel Beldad Bernard Brenn A. Flora Lorenzo D. Paguiriganir Mary Rose D. Pelayo Heashel Chelka S. Totuna

CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Learning is the process of acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behavior, skills, values, or preference. The ability to learn is possessed by humans and animals. But before you learn something, you have to undergo with a lot of difficulties. One of the most important thing to be learned by a CE students was there mathematics subjects. Without the knowledge of mathematics, they say nothing possible in the world. The subject mathematics is beautiful and interesting because of its own symbols, language, terms, technology, etc. Mathematics is an old, broad and deep discipline (field of study). It is the study of topics such as quantity (number), structure, space, and change. CE students always complain with their professors in math class. They are struggling with this and the worst is they end up quitting. The researchers are focusing on mathematical difficulties that seeks the CE students and also affects the academic performances. The researchers aimed to investigate this case to address the learning difficulties that encountered by the CE students.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY The researcher came up with this topic because they found out that many of CE students in PUP taking summer classes and not graduated on time. These are some of the characteristics of a student who are having a hard time with math subjects: Demonstrate slow or inaccurate recall of the basic arithmetic facts; answer problems impulsively, without inhibition; have difficulty representing mathematical concepts mentally; have poorly developed number sense; and have difficulty keeping information in their working memory.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In the field of Mathematical education, there are many theories have been developed to study the learning processes and difficulties that involves mathematical tasks. Campbell (2005) states that the field of cognitive psychology has a long history in the studies of difficulties involved in developing the representation and learning general use of numbers in mathematics. However, Fletcher et al (2007) noted that there are no consistent standards by which to judge the presence or absence of learning difficulties in math. In general, Mathematical Learning Difficulty (MLD) is used broadly to describe a wide variety of deficits in math skills that typically pertaining the domains of arithmetic and arithmetic problem solving.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The major concept of this study is focused on the factors affecting the learning performance in Math Subjects of the College of Engineering students on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. The figure below shows the relationship between the input variables which contains the student and teacher related factors. While the process contains survey, data gatherings, data analysis and data interpretation. And the output variable contains the analysis of the factors on having Learning Difficulties in Math Subjects among College of Engineering Students on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines

INPUT STUDENT - RELATED FACTORS  

Interest Study Habits

TEACHER – RELATED FACTORS   

Personality Traits Teaching Skills Instructional Materials

PROCESS    

Survey Data Gatherings Data Analysis Data Interpretation

OUTPUT An Analysis of the Learning Difficulties in Math Subjects among College of Engineering Students on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This study is an attempt to investigate and identify the contributing factors on the learning difficulties in math subjects among the College of Engineering students in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines: Specifically, it sought answers to the following questions: 1. What is the extent of student-related factors in terms of: 1.1. Interest 1.2. Study Habits

2. What is the extent of teacher-related factors in terms of: 2.1. Personal Traits 2.2. Teaching Skills 2.3. Instructional Materials