LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN MATH SUBJECTS AMONG CEA STUDENTS OF THE POLYTECHNIC

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

A Research Paper

Presented to Prof. Elmer Brabante

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Sta. Mesa, Manila

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course

ENGL 1023 – Writing in the Discipline

By

Krizza Mher T. Asuncion

Ralph Ryel Beldad

Bernard Brenn A. Flora

Lorenzo D. Paguiriganir

Mary Rose D. Pelayo

Heashel Chelka S. Totuna

 CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Learning is the process of acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge,

behavior, skills, values, or preference. The ability to learn is possessed by humans and
animals. But before you learn something, you have to undergo with a lot of difficulties.
One of the most important thing to be learned by a CE students was there mathematics
subjects. Without the knowledge of mathematics, they say nothing possible in the world.
The subject mathematics is beautiful and interesting because of its own symbols,
language, terms, technology, etc. Mathematics is an old, broad and deep discipline
(field of study). It is the study of topics such as quantity (number), structure, space, and
change. CE students always complain with their professors in math class. They are
struggling with this and the worst is they end up quitting. The researchers are focusing
on mathematical difficulties that seeks the CE students and also affects the academic
performances. The researchers aimed to investigate this case to address the learning
difficulties that encountered by the CE students.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The researcher came up with this topic because they found out that many of CE
students in PUP taking summer classes and not graduated on time. These are some of
the characteristics of a student who are having a hard time with math subjects:
Demonstrate slow or inaccurate recall of the basic arithmetic facts; answer problems
impulsively, without inhibition; have difficulty representing mathematical concepts
mentally; have poorly developed number sense; and have difficulty keeping information
in their working memory.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
 In the field of Mathematical education, there are many theories have been
developed to study the learning processes and difficulties that involves mathematical
tasks.

Campbell (2005) states that the field of cognitive psychology has a long history in
the studies of difficulties involved in developing the representation and learning general
use of numbers in mathematics.

However, Fletcher et al (2007) noted that there are no consistent standards by

which to judge the presence or absence of learning difficulties in math.

In general, Mathematical Learning Difficulty (MLD) is used broadly to describe a

wide variety of deficits in math skills that typically pertaining the domains of arithmetic
and arithmetic problem solving.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The major concept of this study is focused on the factors affecting the learning performance in Math
Subjects of the College of Engineering students on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

The figure below shows the relationship between the input variables which contains the student and
teacher related factors. While the process contains survey, data gatherings, data analysis and data
interpretation. And the output variable contains the analysis of the factors on having Learning
Difficulties in Math Subjects among College of Engineering Students on the Polytechnic University of the
Philippines

INPUT

STUDENT - RELATED
FACTORS
PROCESS OUTPUT
 Interest
 Survey An Analysis of the
 Study Habits
 Data Learning Difficulties
Gatherings in Math Subjects
TEACHER – RELATED  Data Analysis among College of
FACTORS  Data Engineering Students
Interpretation on the Polytechnic
 Personality University of the
Traits Philippines
 Teaching Skills
 Instructional
Materials
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study is an attempt to investigate and identify the contributing factors on the learning difficulties in
math subjects among the College of Engineering students in the Polytechnic University of the
Philippines:

Specifically, it sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the extent of student-related factors in terms of:

1.1. Interest
1.2. Study Habits

2. What is the extent of teacher-related factors in terms of:

2.1. Personal Traits

2.2. Teaching Skills
2.3. Instructional Materials