期刊名称:Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research
印刷版ISSN:1557-5284
电子版ISSN:1557-5284
出版年度:2018
卷号:19
期号:1
语种:English
出版社:Institute of STEM Education and Research
摘要:This paper examines the impact of departmental policy changes on the trend in DFW proportions for introductory calculus at a large research university. We defined three distinct policy periods: Traditional (2002-2005), Active Learning (SCALE-UP) (2006-2013), and Return to Traditional (2014-2015). Regression analysis showed DFW proportions were increasing during the Traditional period, significantly decreased after the switch to SCALE-UP, remained fairly consistent during the SCALE-UP period, and then significantly increased during Return to Traditional. Individual trends for D, F, and W proportions were also analyzed. The two policy changes had the greatest influence on the trend in F and W proportions. Potential factors that could influence a student to withdraw from the course were examined. Students who withdrew had midterm averages similar to students who failed the course during the SCALE-UP period, but their averages were significantly lower than the F students during the Return to Traditional period.