RUME 26
2024
Omaha, Nebraska
Comparing Calculus Students’ Use of Problem-Solving Strategies on Related Rates of Change Problems in a Traditional versus Online Homework Format
Page: 1462
This study explores first-semester calculus students’ use of mathematical problem-solving (MPS) strategies while working related rates of change (RRC) problems in both an online homework format and a traditional pencil-paper format. We address two research questions: (1) How do students’ MPS strategies when working online RRC homework problems compare with their MPS strategies when working RRC homework problems in paper-pencil format? (2) What influence does the ‘view an example’ feature in online homework have on a student’s MPS strategies when working an online RRC homework problem? Using midterm performance levels on RRC problems to select participants, we then conducted task-based interviews in which participants were asked to solve four (two paper-pencil and two online) RRC problems. The findings suggest that students may be using features of online homework platforms on RRC problems in a manner that circumvents the use of MPS aspects of online homework platforms.