Theories of self-efficacy and approaches to learning are well-established in the psychology of learning. However, studies on relationships between the primary constructs on which these theories are developed are rarely reported in mathematics education research. Thus, the purpose of the current study is to provide empirical evidence for a…

Approaches to learning have been identified as crucial factors that influence students' mathematics performance. However, there have been mixed findings on which of the different approaches improve performance in undergraduate mathematics. Thus, this study aimed to unravel the specific effects of prior mathematics knowledge and approaches to…

The present paper presents three deliberately chosen mathematical episodes observed in a class of engineering students taking a basic calculus course. By drawing on analyses of instrumental and relational learning strategies, the episodes are shown to illustrate instrumental approaches indicated by the students. The paper discusses positive…

This paper describes a project that was an arena for learning through three years (six semesters) of engineering education in computer technology. Project work accounted for approximately 20% of student work in five semesters, and 50% in the last semester. There were three categories of projects. The first type, in the first semester, had as its…

The Engineering College at Hogskolen i Telemark has since 1982 practiced cooperative learning as the model of promoting student learning. It has earlier been shown that the Telemark Model does enhance many important aspects of learning and human growth. However, new demands on higher education in Norway asks for new roles of universities and…

In the late 1990s failure rates in a first-year introductory calculus course at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology reached peak levels. This paper reports on findings from an action research project that was set up in 2002/2003 to improve the situation. The study confirms that students approach their tasks differently which…