Academic performance in Differential and Integral Calculus I: analysis in engineering careers

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research case study, whose aim was to analyze the academic performance of students in the course of Differential and Integral Calculus I racing Environmental Engineering, Civil, Computer, Production, Chemistry and Telecommunications, offered by a Community Institution of Higher Education located in the Greater Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul / Brazil) in the second school semester of 2013. Research subjects were 35 students, being 8 female and 27 male, located generally between the ages of 18 to 24 years. Data collection occurred by means of a survey of students and analysis of academic performance. The approach used was quantitative with descriptive objective and descriptive statistics for data analysis. The study results indicate that: a) Students of Engineering - Chemistry, Production and Telecommunications - obtained better performance; b) As for content integrals functions of one variable was the issue of increased student difficulty; c) The yield is low by internal factors such as lack of class perform various exercises that allow continuous reflection and prior knowledge, among others