Bahamian Students Experiences With Mathematics In American Universities And Colleges PDF Download

This longitudinal, qualitative, multi-case study examines the mathematical experiences of three Bahamian students pursuing science degrees in American universities and its relationship to their previous mathematical experiences in their Bahamian high schools. Drawing on cultural psychology and sociocultural theories of learning, this study found that the relationship between the academic preparedness of the participants on their experiences with collegiate mathematics is not limited to subject content only. The lessons learnt from the implied curriculum also play a role in their experiences with collegiate mathematics. Of the three participants, two have had to learn/develop techniques for studying because they had not been sufficiently challenged in their previous environments to do so. Each of the cases also highlights some powerful constructs needed for success in mathematics and at least two emphasize making connections between concepts, procedures, manipulatives/tools and multiple approaches when solving problems. This study contributes to an emerging area of research on student persistence in college-level mathematics courses as well as to the ongoing discussions in mathematics education regarding the role/importance of conceptual understanding and how to promote it. The study makes visible some of the ways in which students' post-secondary experiences with mathematics are shaped by their perception of their mathematical preparation, thus providing a basis for discussions of possible curricular change in the Bahamas. It also suggests that issues such as confidence and school/teacher expectations of students may play a role in the development of conceptual understanding.