PROCEEDINGS OF THE 18TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2015
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Investigating backward transfer effects in calculus students
Page: 1063
One of the most important concepts in calculus is the derivative. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that students have trouble understanding derivatives, possibly due to deficiencies in knowledge about concepts learned prior to calculus. However, few studies have investigated how learning about other calculus topics affects students’ understandings of the derivative. In this study, qualitative methods were used to investigate the influence, or backward transfer effect, that learning about integration has on students’ prior understandings of derivatives. Semi-structured task-based interviews were conducted with four high school students before and after students received instruction on integration. Interview tasks involved finding derivatives and antiderivatives algebraically and graphically. Results from this study may show that learning about integration is another potential reason for why students have trouble understanding derivatives. Alternately, results may show that it is possible for teachers to help reinforce students’ understandings of derivatives through instruction on other calculus topics.