Northwest Indiana Postsecondary Regional Partnership
Mathematics: Attitude and Study Habits
The Math Working Group analyzed student attitudes and study habits that are exhibited by college ready students. These were categorized into five areas:
- Student Work Attitudes. This encompasses the student's attitude towards school and their learning environment.
- Student Work Habits. This includes factors such as the amount of time spent on homework and their persistence in completing it.
- Cognitive Understanding. This concerns the depth of understanding the student aspires to possess.
- Technology. This encompasses the way a student uses and interacts with technology.
- Assessments. This encompasses the student's attitude towards homework, exams and extra credit projects.
Below is a complete list of our findings concerning these five areas.
Student Work Attitudes
Marginally Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra
- Student Goal to earn 'C+'
- Awareness of the sequential learning nature of mathematical topics
- Awareness of importance of final exam result as performance indicator
- Parent/other advocates for student
- Some willingness to adapt to learning environment not compatible with student learning style
- Attendance viewed as necessary to success in course
Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra OR Marginally Prepared for Calculus
- Student Goal to earn 'B+'
- Above average awareness of the sequential learning nature of mathematical topics
- Above average awareness of importance of final exam result as performance indicator
- Learning to self-advocate
- Willing to adapt to learning environment not compatible with student learning style
- Attendance viewed as important to success in course
Prepared for Calculus
- Student Goal to earn 'A'
- Sophisticated awareness of the sequential learning nature of mathematical topics
- Sophisticated awareness of importance of final exam result as performance indicator
- Able to self-advocate
- Thrives in a learning environment not compatible with student learning style
- Attendance viewed as critical to success in course
Student Work Habits
Marginally Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra
- Completes 75% of work
- Teacher motivated
- Struggles with time management; meets some deadlines
- Seeks needed information possibly with prompting
- Copies teacher notes only; inconsistently maintains notebook
- Usually comes with needed supplies
Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra OR Marginally Prepared for Calculus
- Completes 85% of work
- Self motivated
- Effective and consistent time management; meets deadlines
- Seeks needed information without prompting
- Expands upon teacher notes in consistently maintained notebook
- Comes with needed supplies
Prepared for Calculus
- Completes 100% of work
- Self motivated
- Effective and consistent time management; works ahead of deadlines
- Anticipates needed information
- Expands upon teacher notes with personal commentary in consistently maintained notebook
- Comes with needed supplies
Cognitive Understanding
Marginally Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra
- Knowledge of facts and some understanding
- Asks operational 'how to...' questions
Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra OR Marginally Prepared for Calculus
- Knowledge of facts, understanding, and application
- Asks 'when and why' questions
Prepared for Calculus
- Knowledge of facts, understanding, application, analysis and synthesis
- Asks 'what if...' questions
Technology Skills
Marginally Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra
- Success with use of an electronic learning management system
- Knowledge/use of a scientific calculator and/or graphing calculator but NOT dependent upon for basic arithmetic and used minimally for fractional operations
Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra OR Marginally Prepared for Calculus
- Working knowledge of an electronic learning management system
- Knowledge/use of applications of a scientific calculator and graphing calculator NOT used for basic arithmetic and fractional operations
Prepared for Calculus
- Sophisticated knowledge/use of electronic learning management system
- Sophisticated application and use of a graphing calculator used for graph analysis and NOT basic arithmetic including fractional operations
Assessments
Marginally Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra
- Success with a variety of assessment methods including multiple choice, short answer, essay, projects
- Depends on homework to improve grade (viewed as a chore)
- Relies upon Test/quiz 'do over'
- Expects Extra Credit in order to succeed
Prepared for Finite Math/College Algebra OR Marginally Prepared for Calculus
- Above average success with a variety of assessment methods, including multiple choice, short answer, essays, and projects
- Views homework as a means to learn material
- Uses extra credit as an opportunity to learn
Prepared for Calculus
- Exemplary success with a variety of assessment methods, including multiple choice, short answer, essays, and projects
- Views homework as an opportunity to learn material
- Extra credit is completed in the form of independent study, potentially for additional high school credits