TITLE:
Difficulties in College Algebra of Freshmen Students at the University of Eastern Philippines: Basis for Modular Construction
AUTHORS:
Olga D. G. Unay, Ida E. Esquierdo, May Jane B. Calpa, Danilo C. Basista, Emilia Vanessa Selena B. Pinca, Fel B. Muncada Jr.
KEYWORDS:
Difficulties, College Algebra, Modular Construction, Descriptive Normative
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.3 No.4,
April
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: A strong grasp in mathematics is a key factor in ensuring success in
mathematics education. This study tried to identify the difficulties in College
Algebra of freshmen students in the University of Eastern Philippines during
the school year 2013-2014 as basis for modular construction. The performance
level was determined by giving a teacher made test to find out the skill areas
students were deficient. The causes of their deficiencies were traced as basis
for constructing modules. In this study, the descriptive normative method of
research was used where the College of Science freshmen students were the
respondents. The performance level of the students in College Algebra based on
teacher made test given by the researchers was very low, the overall total
score of total score of the given items answered correctly by the students was
324, the average was 77.16 and the mean performance was 26.34. The result
showed that the mean performance was 26.34. The result showed that the mean
performance was very low without mastery. The students had almost no background
on the seven areas which resulted to their very low performance. They lacked
knowledge, competency and skills in answering questions especially in solving the
application of word problems which obtained a mean score of 2.99, followed by
special product and factoring, equations and radicals. The result of the study
showed that the students were deficient in the application of word problems,
special product and factoring, equations and radicals.