Impact of Basic Arithmetic Skills on Success in First-Semester General Chemistry

Autor/inn/en	Williamson, Vickie M.; Walker, Deborah Rush; Chuu, Eric; Broadway, Susan; Mamiya, Blain; Powell, Cynthia B.; Shelton, G. Robert; Weber, Rebecca; Dabney, Alan R.; Mason, Diana
Titel	Impact of Basic Arithmetic Skills on Success in First-Semester General Chemistry
Quelle	In: Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 21 (2020) 1, S.51-61 (11 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Williamson, Vickie M.) ORCID (Walker, Deborah Rush) ORCID (Chuu, Eric) ORCID (Broadway, Susan) ORCID (Mamiya, Blain) ORCID (Powell, Cynthia B.) ORCID (Shelton, G. Robert) ORCID (Weber, Rebecca) ORCID (Dabney, Alan R.) ORCID (Mason, Diana)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1756-1108
DOI	10.1039/c9rp00077a
Schlagwörter	Arithmetic; Mathematics Skills; College Science; Science Achievement; Chemistry; Mathematics Tests; At Risk Students; Correlation; Grades (Scholastic); Diagnostic Tests; Student Characteristics; Predictor Variables + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Addition; Arithmetik; Arithmetikunterricht; Rechnen; Mathmatics achievement; Mathematics ability; Mathematische Kompetenz; Chemie; Korrelation; Notenspiegel; Diagnostic test; Diagnostischer Test; Prädiktor
Abstract	First-semester general chemistry is a known "gatekeeper" course due to its high failure rate. These higher education courses are taken by students who for the most part are regularly admitted freshmen, yet many struggle to succeed. In this investigation researchers from six higher-education institutions of varied sizes with student bodies of different ethnic composition teamed up to investigate the Math-Up Skills Test (MUST) as a potential tool to identify at-risk students in first-semester general chemistry (Chem I). A large population (N = 1073) was given the MUST at the beginning of the semester. The MUST had good internal consistency with the sample (Cronbach's alpha = 0.856). The MUST offers a quick 15 minute assessment of basic mathematics ability without a calculator. Instructors may find it easier than other documented predictors, which may take more time or involve obtaining student records (e.g., Math SAT). Results from the MUST support prior findings that mathematics skills correlate with course grades in chemistry. Poor arithmetic automaticity may be an underlying factor in lower performance by many students. With statistical modeling, the MUST, along with other demographic variables, was able to identify students who would go on to make a 69.5% or better in Chem I with a high percent of accuracy. The MUST, in tandem with other demographic variables, should be considered a potential tool for early identification of students at-risk for failing the class. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Royal Society of Chemistry. Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF, UK. Tel: +44-1223 420066; Fax: +44-1223 423623; e-mail: cerp@rsc.org; Web site: http://www.rsc.org/cerp
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01