[MATHEDCC] more details on math course repeaters

Seese, Lillian (lseese@mcmail.stlcc.cc.mo.us)
Thu, 08 Jan 1998 21:31:29 -0800

I recently wrote about course repeaters, and had a request for more
detail...but have not been able to respond to the sender, so I am sending
this out to all, in hopes that the requester will see it. Hope it is of
general interest:
Here are our major findings:
33% of our students had repeated or withdrawn from at least 1 math class.
Most "repeated" courses were (in order) College algebra, Calculus III,
Intermediate Algebra
An additional 14% of our students reported that they had repeated only
courses in other departments
Math course repeaters (as opposed to those who were moving through the
math sequence without having repeated a math course) had a much higher
percent of students responding that they:
were not likely to attend regularly
were not likely to come to class the first day or two
were not likely to do assignments regularly
were not likely to do any assignments during the first week
were not liekly to ask questions at the time they became confused
were not likely to see instructors outside of class
were not likely to study in groups

Strangely enough, course repeaters reported that they were more likely to
visit tutors and to use study skills centers.

Most common reasons given for dropping math courses (in order):
wanted a higher grade
lack on interest in the subject
lack of math skills needed to pass
lack of study skills
lack of time to do assignments
lack of confidence
non-academic reasons
Most common reasons given for dropping a developmental math course was the
same, but included lack of attendance as #1 and rarely mentioned "wanted a
higher grade"
Lillian Seese, SLCC Meramec

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