Differential and Integral Calculus in First-Year Engineering Students: A Diagnosis to Understand the Failure

Abstract

Difficulties in the curricular units (CU) of the mathematical science area, particularly those related to differential and integral calculus (DIC), are often found among students of engineering degrees, leading to high failure rates. A research work was developed with the objective of finding the reasons that lead the students to fail in the CU of DIC (CU-DIC) taught in the 1st year of the engineering undergraduate degrees at the Coimbra Engineering Institute (ISEC), in Portugal. Applying a case study methodology, this article will present a current diagnosis with the objective to establish relationships between teaching methods and students’ learning strategies, and besides, we propose to build learning environments that lead to higher success. The analysis of collected data allows us to conclude that the CU-DIC in the ISEC maintain an identical distribution in the hourly load in several engineering degrees, where contents are adjusted to each context taking into account the CUs of each degree. The data analysis found better results in the academic year that includes two examination moments without any relationship between class attendance, dropout and pass rates. We propose some different teaching/learning strategies in CU-DIC and new learning environments that enhance freshmen students’ engagement and participation in their own learning process.