Effects of a vocabulary-enhanced College Algebra curriculum on student understanding /

A quantitative method supplemented with interviews was used to explore the effects of a vocabulary-enhanced curriculum on student understanding of College Algebra. Twenty-nine students, enrolled in one section of College Algebra, formed the Vocabulary-Enhanced Group. They received mathematics instr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Garcia, Olivia Rodriguez
Format: Thesis Book
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 2002.
Subjects:
Online Access:http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=726447591&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD
Description
Summary:A quantitative method supplemented with interviews was used to explore the effects of a vocabulary-enhanced curriculum on student understanding of College Algebra. Twenty-nine students, enrolled in one section of College Algebra, formed the Vocabulary-Enhanced Group. They received mathematics instruction that supports a constructive learning perspective with an emphasis on the vocabulary of technical terms and symbolic notation. A language-rich environment was utilized to encourage students to use verbal-linguistic components to acquire conceptual and procedural understanding of College Algebra concepts. Forty-three students, enrolled in two sections of College Algebra, formed the Traditional Lecture Group. They received mathematics instruction in a traditional lecture approach in which vocabulary was presented informally -- as is done in most mathematics classes. Quantitative results indicated that students from the Vocabulary-Enhanced Group achieved a better understanding (both procedural and conceptual) of the mathematics studied in College Algebra. Interview results indicated that students from the Vocabulary-Enhanced Group demonstrated greater facility in expressing their mathematical thoughts both orally and in writing.
Item Description:Vita.
"Major Subject: Curriculum and Instruction".
Physical Description:x, 126 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-91).