WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches

This study examined the effectiveness of teaching and learning calculus with the aid of the WxMaxima computer programme, as compared with the traditional method. In a quasi-experimental study, two classes of Malaysian secondary school Form Four students were randomly assigned to the control group (3...

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Main Authors: Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi, Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani, Abu Bakar, Kamariah, Wong, Su Luan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2012
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/1/48153.pdf
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author Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani
Abu Bakar, Kamariah
Wong, Su Luan
author_facet Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani
Abu Bakar, Kamariah
Wong, Su Luan
author_sort Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study examined the effectiveness of teaching and learning calculus with the aid of the WxMaxima computer programme, as compared with the traditional method. In a quasi-experimental study, two classes of Malaysian secondary school Form Four students were randomly assigned to the control group (30 students) and the WxMaxima group (32 students). A Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) was initially used to identify students with deep and surface approaches to learning. The findings indicated that students who were taught using the WxMaxima software performed significantly better than those in the traditional learning group. Further analysis showed that students with the deep learning approach in the experimental group achieved significantly higher post-test scores compared with students in the traditional learning group. However, there was no significant difference between the scores of the control and experimental groups who adopted the surface learning approach. This study implies that the use of WxMaxima could help students learn calculus more effectively, this being especially true among students who use the deep study approach.
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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spelling upm-481532016-09-14T02:44:58Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/ WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani Abu Bakar, Kamariah Wong, Su Luan This study examined the effectiveness of teaching and learning calculus with the aid of the WxMaxima computer programme, as compared with the traditional method. In a quasi-experimental study, two classes of Malaysian secondary school Form Four students were randomly assigned to the control group (30 students) and the WxMaxima group (32 students). A Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) was initially used to identify students with deep and surface approaches to learning. The findings indicated that students who were taught using the WxMaxima software performed significantly better than those in the traditional learning group. Further analysis showed that students with the deep learning approach in the experimental group achieved significantly higher post-test scores compared with students in the traditional learning group. However, there was no significant difference between the scores of the control and experimental groups who adopted the surface learning approach. This study implies that the use of WxMaxima could help students learn calculus more effectively, this being especially true among students who use the deep study approach. Elsevier 2012 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/1/48153.pdf Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi and Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani and Abu Bakar, Kamariah and Wong, Su Luan (2012) WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 64. pp. 467-473. ISSN 1877-0428 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187704281205032X 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.11.055
spellingShingle Mohd Ayub, Ahmad Fauzi
Ahmad Tarmizi, Rohani
Abu Bakar, Kamariah
Wong, Su Luan
WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
title WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
title_full WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
title_fullStr WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
title_full_unstemmed WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
title_short WxMaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
title_sort wxmaxima computer software as an aid to the study of calculus by students with different learning approaches
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/48153/1/48153.pdf