Análise do desempenho de alunos calouros de engenharia na disciplina de cálculo diferencial e integral I: um estudo de caso na UTFPR

Abstract

This research aims to analyse factors in order to understand their significance to the failure of Engineering freshmen students in Differential and Integral Calculus I. To this purpose, the basic hypothesis adopted is that academic commitment is a variable that expressively affects this setting. The theoretical framework summarizes the origin and evolution of Engineering courses, the relevance of the subject and respective failures, as well as potential aggravating circumstances. In addition, it approaches key factors related to failure in Calculus discussed in current literature. This is a mixed approach research and secondary hypotheses intended to either confirm or disregard the impact of certain variables, namely: grade achieved by students in Mathematics exam conducted in Brazilian High School National Exam (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio, ENEM); weights assigned to ENEM Mathematics test; term of course admission (fall or spring); quantity of courses per week; previous knowledge on Mathematics; and distinct evaluation methodology. The research studies the performance of 3,010 students of UTFPR of both Pato Branco and Ponta Grossa campuses enrolled in the institution from 2010 to 2014. Data related to quantitative variables were collected through searches in the institution’s academic system and conduction of tests to first-year students. Subsequently, this data was analysed using statistics tools. The data accrual related to the qualitative variable (academic commitment) occurred through semi-structured interviews conducted along with some students and analysis was supported by Content Analysis methodology proposed by Bardin (1977). Results suggest the dependency among the five quantitative variables analysed and the performance achieved in the subject Calculus I. Furthermore, they indicate that students’ behaviour regarding the subject Differential and Integral Calculus I was definitive for either good or poor performance in the subject. The final product was the construction of a web applicative which allows the reutilization of quantitative data analysis methodology in other UTFPR campuses and college institutions.