Analysis of Task Sequence and Critical Behaviors of Engineering Students and their Understanding of Conic Sections

Abstract

This study investigated the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the sequence of steps taken in a solution path for solving conic sections (parabola, ellipse and hyperbola) problems. It identified critical behaviors or incidents, habits or mannerisms of students during problem-solving to determine the relation of these to the understanding of the concept of conics. The think-aloud interview technique was used in conjunction with an interpretive method of case study observation.

The data came from sixteen (16) case studies of first-year students in the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural/Civil Engineering programs, also referred as General Engineering. The result of the Prior Knowledge Test on Conics was the basis in selecting the subjects. Starting with the highest score, the 8 top-scoring students were classified as the Top-8 Group, and the 8 lowest scoring students were classified as the Bottom-8 Group. The subjects were asked to solve six problems in conic sections, two problems each (one routine and the other an application problem) on parabola, ellipse and hyperbola. Their verbalizations were tape-recorded, and their behavioral characteristics were observed as they individually solved the problems.