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- Title
- A COMPUTERIZED MODEL FOR PLACEMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IN COLLEGE REMEDIAL MATHEMATICS.
- Creator
- HIRMANPOUR, IRAJ., Florida Atlantic University, Brumbaugh, Douglas K.
- Abstract/Description
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This study uses Gagne's theory of learning hierarchies to analyze the learning tasks of a college remedial mathematics course into a sequence of subordinate tasks and designs a diagnostic test for the course based upon the model. Furthermore, a computer system that implements the diagnostic system based on the task analysis model of diagnosis is developed. The topics normally covered in college remedial mathematics courses are divided into ten major areas, and each topic is divided into a set...
Show moreThis study uses Gagne's theory of learning hierarchies to analyze the learning tasks of a college remedial mathematics course into a sequence of subordinate tasks and designs a diagnostic test for the course based upon the model. Furthermore, a computer system that implements the diagnostic system based on the task analysis model of diagnosis is developed. The topics normally covered in college remedial mathematics courses are divided into ten major areas, and each topic is divided into a set of subordinate tasks. The subdivision is expressed through statements of performance objectives. A numbering which depicts the hierarchical structures of subtasks is used, and the test design conforms to this structure. Computer programs are written to allow the program user to enter the result of task analysis and the tests to be administered. The tests can be administered via a computer terminal identify the student's mathematical deficiencies. Test results and information from the task analysis can be used to produce a report of student deficiencies. It is hypothesized that such a detailed report of the student's deficiencies will enable the instructor to prescribe an individually tailored remedial course for the student. Each student's test performance is recorded, and a computer program is provided to perform item analysis and to compute test reliability coefficients for any group of students. The result of this study is a set of computer programs which implements the task analysis model of diagnosis for any subject where hierarchical relationships can be defined. This study also provides the testing instruments for separating college freshmen into remedial and non-remedial groups and for the diagnostic testing of the remedial group. It is concluded that the digital computer can be used to implement the task analysis model of diagnosis and that the software provided should be helpful to those who want to design and evaluate diagnostic tests.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1980
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11774
- Subject Headings
- Mathematics--Remedial teaching--Ability testing, Algebra--Study and teaching (Higher)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- AN ANALYSIS OF THE ABILITY OF SELECTED VARIABLES TO PREDICT THE PROBABILITY AND DEGREE OF SUCCESS IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA COURSE.
- Creator
- MEDUSKY, JOHN WILLIAM., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
The purpose of this study was to determine whether it was possible to construct a profile for an individual which would predict whether he would succeed in a community college intermediate algebra course, and whether it was possible to predict the grade the individual would receive in the course. The problem generating the study was the high dropout rate for the intermediate algebra course offered at the institution of the researcher, Broward Community College, Broward County, Florida. The...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine whether it was possible to construct a profile for an individual which would predict whether he would succeed in a community college intermediate algebra course, and whether it was possible to predict the grade the individual would receive in the course. The problem generating the study was the high dropout rate for the intermediate algebra course offered at the institution of the researcher, Broward Community College, Broward County, Florida. The set of eight possible predictors used in the study were mathematical aptitude score, mathematical achievement score, reading comprehension score, age at the beginning of the term, elapsed time since last successful completion of a mathematics course, number of credit hours being carried. sex of the individual and hours of employment per week. The major conclusions reached were that the classification functions developed demonstrated the ability to: 1) Predict a grade exactly with a probability of at least 0.34. 2) Predict a grade within one grade level with a probability of at least 0.65. 3) Identify at least 60 percent of failures at the initiation of the course.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1978
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11714
- Subject Headings
- Mathematical ability--Testing, Algebra--Study and teaching--Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Efficient implementation of zero-knowledge based identification protocols.
- Creator
- Barella, Michelle Elizabeth., Florida Atlantic University, Mullin, Ronald C.
- Abstract/Description
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A zero knowledge identification protocol is an interactive proof system that allows a person to prove that he knows a secret key associated with his identity without revealing the secret key. This type of protocol is the topic of a fairy tale, by Gustavus Simmons called the King's Dilemma, about a king and the problem he has with thieves impersonating his tax collectors. It describes a zero-knowledge identification protocol that will rid the king of his problem. I present this system, the...
Show moreA zero knowledge identification protocol is an interactive proof system that allows a person to prove that he knows a secret key associated with his identity without revealing the secret key. This type of protocol is the topic of a fairy tale, by Gustavus Simmons called the King's Dilemma, about a king and the problem he has with thieves impersonating his tax collectors. It describes a zero-knowledge identification protocol that will rid the king of his problem. I present this system, the motivation for this thesis, and the transformations from this protocol, that uses lead weights and containers, to protocols that use mathematical elements. The security of these protocols is determined by the complexity of the underlying mathematical problem, such as the knapsack and discrete logarithm problem, and three properties: completeness, soundness, and zero knowledge.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13181
- Subject Headings
- Cryptography, Telecommunication systems--Security measures, Knapsack problem (Mathematics), Mathematical optimization, Finite fields (Algebra), Data encryption (Computer science)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Computing topological dynamics from time series.
- Creator
- Wess, Mark., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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The topological entropy of a continuous map quantifies the amount of chaos observed in the map. In this dissertation we present computational methods which enable us to compute topological entropy for given time series data generated from a continuous map with a transitive attractor. A triangulation is constructed in order to approximate the attractor and to construct a multivalued map that approximates the dynamics of the linear interpolant on the triangulation. The methods utilize...
Show moreThe topological entropy of a continuous map quantifies the amount of chaos observed in the map. In this dissertation we present computational methods which enable us to compute topological entropy for given time series data generated from a continuous map with a transitive attractor. A triangulation is constructed in order to approximate the attractor and to construct a multivalued map that approximates the dynamics of the linear interpolant on the triangulation. The methods utilize simplicial homology and in particular the Lefschetz Fixed Point Theorem to establish the existence of periodic orbits for the linear interpolant. A semiconjugacy is formed with a subshift of nite type for which the entropy can be calculated and provides a lower bound for the entropy of the linear interpolant. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of possible applications of this analysis to experimental time series.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/186294
- Subject Headings
- Algebraic topology, Graph theory, Fixed point theory, Singularities (Mathematics)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Impact of “Real World” Experiences through Academic Service Learning on Students’ Success Rate, Attitudes, and Motivation in Intermediate Algebra at a Public University.
- Creator
- Toussaint, Mario J., Furner, Joseph M., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
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A report issued in 2012 by the United States Government Accountability Office (US Government Accountability Office, 2012) concluded that the United States is not producing enough graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to meet the demands of its economy. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2001), fewer than fifty percent of students nationally possess a solid command of mathematical content. This study tested whether the insertion of...
Show moreA report issued in 2012 by the United States Government Accountability Office (US Government Accountability Office, 2012) concluded that the United States is not producing enough graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to meet the demands of its economy. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2001), fewer than fifty percent of students nationally possess a solid command of mathematical content. This study tested whether the insertion of Academic Service Learning (ASL) into intermediate algebra courses improved students’ performance, their motivation to learn the subject, and attitudes towards mathematics learning. ASL is an educational strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities (Duffy, Barrington, West, Heredia, & Barry, 2011). The subjects in this study were thirty-four students enrolled in intermediate algebra at a large public university in southeast Florida. The participant group consisted of fifteen students who completed the requirements of the ASL program and the comparison group consisted of nineteen students who initially showed interest in the program but dropped out of the study early in the semester. Through a mixed method analysis, the study found that the proportion of students who passed the course in the ASL group was greater than the proportion of students in the non-ASL group. Similarly, the mean final course grade in the ASL group was higher than the mean final course grade in the non-ASL group. The results of the qualitative analyses showed that all the participants enjoyed the ASL experience. In addition, some participants felt that the ASL project raised their motivation to learn mathematics and increased their competence in mathematics. However, both quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that the students’ participation in the ASL project did not affect their attitudes towards mathematics learning. The study concluded that Academic Service Learning has the potential to help improve students’ success rates in developmental mathematics courses as well as increase their motivation to learn the subject.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004739, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004739
- Subject Headings
- Action research in education., Service learning., Universities and colleges--Public services., Teacher-student relationships., Algebra--Study and teaching (Higher), Educational technology--Evaluation., Motivation in education., Academic achievement.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Academic performance and demographic variables in predicting success in college algebra and graduation rates in an urban multi-campus community college.
- Creator
- Pedersen, Ginger Lee., Florida Atlantic University, Decker, Larry E.
- Abstract/Description
-
The purpose of this study was to develop a model to predict success in college algebra and in Associate in Arts graduation, and to examine the relationship between placing in one or more developmental education courses and Associate in Arts graduation. The study was conducted at a large urban community college in Palm Beach County, Florida with 1,142 first-time-in-college students who took the College Placement Test (CPT) as their entrance examination. The study was designed to determine...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to develop a model to predict success in college algebra and in Associate in Arts graduation, and to examine the relationship between placing in one or more developmental education courses and Associate in Arts graduation. The study was conducted at a large urban community college in Palm Beach County, Florida with 1,142 first-time-in-college students who took the College Placement Test (CPT) as their entrance examination. The study was designed to determine whether students' gender, age, ethnicity, grade point average (GPA), English language proficiency, nontraditional status, placement scores and number of developmental courses could predict a students' success in college algebra and graduating with the Associate in Arts degree, and how placing in one or more developmental course was correlated with graduating with the Associate in Arts degree. Three research hypotheses were developed to determine any significant predictive ability among the variables studied. Hypotheses 1 and 2 used discriminant analysis to determine the predicative ability of identified variables and hypothesis 3 used a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to assess the relationship of placing into one or more developmental courses on graduating with the Associate in Arts degree. All hypotheses were tested at the .05 level of significance. The results of the study indicated that for hypothesis 1 the variables of GPA, number of developmental courses, level of mathematics courses and mathematics placement score were all significant predictors. For hypothesis 2, the variables of GPA, placement scores in reading and writing, and the number of developmental courses were all significant predictors. For hypothesis 3, the number of developmental courses that a student tested into did have a significant relationship with the student's receiving an Associate in Arts degree. The results are discussed in relation to ensuring that students are better prepared for college-level work by a series of recommendations relating to collaborative efforts between community colleges and local high school districts. In addition, recommendations are made to re-align the developmental mathematics curriculum to effectively prepare students for subsequent college-level mathematics courses.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FADT12083
- Subject Headings
- Community colleges--Florida--Palm Beach County--Sociological aspects, Community college students--Florida--Palm Beach County--Statistics, Academic achievement--Florida--Palm Beach County, Postsecondary education--Research--Florida--Palm Beach County, Algebra
- Format
- Document (PDF)
