Students' experiences, learning styles and understanding of certain calculus concepts: A case of distance learning at the Zimbabwe Open University

Abstract

This study attempts to understand how distance education practices influence the learning of calculus. Understanding student learning in a distance education environment is an important factor to consider in improving the learning experiences of those students who for one reason or the other opt not to study in conventional institutions of higher education. On one hand, understanding student learning may illuminate the influences that the learning environment has on student learning and on the other hand, it may inform on how learning experiences can be improved. The aim of this study is to acquire a deeper understanding of the diverse manner in which distance students learn calculus. Specific focus is also placed on how the distance education context of the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) influences student learning. The study describes a group of students' experiences of learning calculus in the ZOU distance education environment. The study also describes the students' learning styles and relates these to their mathematical understanding of certain calculus concepts. The specific content topics of "limit of function" and "derivative of function" are used to view achievement and performance, thereby indicating the distance students' mathematical understanding. The information processing learning theory is used as the theoretical framework for this study. The constructs of learning styles and mathematical understanding are used to illuminate the student's learning processes. The study used the Felder-Silverman learning styles model and Hiebert and Carpenter's notion of mathematical understanding to expound these constructs. The distance education environment of the B.Sc. Mathematics and Statistics (BSMS) programme at the ZOU provided the context of the study and an interpretive case study approach was adopted. A group of students registered in a first year first semester calculus course were studied. Data were collected from students based in four ZOU regional centres; namely Harare, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, and Masvingo. These regional centres were conveniently selected for the study on the basis of proximity and accessibility.