Measuring Students’ Engagement in Learning Volumes of Revolution when Using Advanced Visualization Media in an Active Learning Environment

The growing adoption of active learning strategies is changing teaching practices in many disciplines. In particular, mathematics instructors are increasingly using active learning methods to engage students in the classroom and reduce achievement gaps. In this study, the researchers present a pilot-study implementation of an active learning task in a Mathematics course. The task was modeled as a problem-solving group activity utilizing visualization systems in order to promote increased student engagement with relevant course content. The pilot study consisted of a one-group pre-test / post-test experimental design. To assess the effects of the activity, the team evaluated several engagement dependent variables, such as self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, effort regulation, and task-attraction. The students in the experimental group were then exposed to an independent variable, i.e. type of learning activities, with two levels of treatment, group-based visualization activity versus traditional classroom with a group-based activity. The visualization equipment used was an 18’ HoyluTM Huddlewall projection system designed to facilitate teams in performing design and problem-solving processes. The research team was able to collect data from 15 participants. The participants were students enrolled in a Calculus 2 class at CSU East Bay. A paired-samples T-Test was used to determine whether there was a statistically significant mean difference between the students’ self-efficacy, task attraction, perceived usefulness, and effort regulation when they participated in the visualization activity compared to a traditional classroom. The analysis of the results showed a significant difference between the students’ self-efficacy, task attraction, and perceived usefulness, but not for effort regulation. These results support the researchers’ initial hypothesis that such an activity would stimulate the students’ engagement. The significance of these results contributes to the growing research on the use of visualization media and active and group-based learning in Mathematics courses.