Abstract

ALVES, Manuela; COUTINHO, Clara; ROCHA, Ana Maria  and  RODRIGUES, Cristina. Influencing factors in the learning of mathematical concepts in Engineering courses: An exploratory study with students of the University of Minho. Rev. Port. de Educação [online]. 2016, vol.29, n.1, pp.259-293. ISSN 0871-9187.  https://doi.org/10.21814/rpe.5998.

Success in the learning of Mathematics in higher education constitutes an emerging field of research, particularly in the Engineering courses. In Portugal, however, the research in this area remains incipient. It is therefore relevant to explore which factors may clarify the relation between the Engineering students and Mathematics. Based on three focus groups carried out with students from two Engineering courses at the University of Minho, this exploratory study aims to investigate the attitudes of students in the learning of mathematical concepts and find out the factors that influence their experience in the learning process. Beyond the perception of the importance of Mathematics in their course and their future profession, the results suggest that there are factors that influence their performance, such as the teacher's role and his/her teaching methodology, as well as the applicability of mathematical concepts in the context of Engineering, the student's active role in learning and the influence of parents and society.

Keywords : Learning of mathematical concepts; Engineering; Focus group; Higher education.

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