The mediating role of higher-order thinking skill in the relationship between mathematics strength and achievement in electrical and electronic engineering education | [NURTURE • 2024]

Author(s):

1. Theodore Oduro-Okyireh: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

2. Budi Mulyanti: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

3. Dedi Rohendi: Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

4. George Oduro-Okyireh: Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Akenten Appiah-Minka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ghana

5. Alice Constance Mensah: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Accra Technical University, Ghana

6. Kennedy Acheampong: Department of Economics Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract:

The paper aims to examine the casual role of higher -order thinking skills as a mediator in the relationship between students' strength in mathematics and achievement in electrical and electronic engineering education. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a quantitative research design where random cluster sampling was used to select a total of 488 final-year students from four technical universities in Ghana. Mathematics achievement tests were used to gather data on students' higher-order thinking skills and competence in five areas of mathematics. Also, their examination results were collected from their respective universities. Mediation analysis was done using AMOS 26. Finding: The study revealed that the positive effect of students' strengths in the five selected mathematics topics on their performance in electrical and electronic engineering education is mediated by their higher-order thinking skills. Conclusion: The research concludes that there is a partial mediation in the relationship between students' strength in mathematics and achievement in electrical and electronic engineering education by higher-order thinking skills. Research Limitations: It is recommended that further researchers carry out similar research with more mathematics indicators to explain more variations in achievement in electrical and electronic engineering education. Practical Implication: Engineering mathematics curriculum developers should stress the need for mathematics, especially algebra, for the development of higher-order thinking skills to facilitate problem-solving in electrical and electronic engineering education and practice. Contribution to Literature: This study highlights the relationship between the understanding of the concepts of specific mathematics topics, higher -order thinking skills, and achievement in electrical and electronic engineering education.

Page(s): 73-90

DOI: 10.55951/nurture.v18i1.544

Published: Journal: NURTURE, Volume: 18, Issue: 1, Year: 2024

Keywords:

achievement , mediation , problemsolving , Mathematics strength , Electrical and electronic engineering , Higherorder thinking skills , Structural equation muddling

References:

[1] Abaigar K. B. F.,Varela B. D. .2021 .Mathematical skills and the academic performance of junior and senior electrical engineering students of the university of Eastern Philippines. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 20(3) : 20-31.

[2] Ahern A.,O'Connor T.,McRuairc G.,McNamara M.,O'Donnell D. .2012 .Critical thinking in the university curriculum-the impact on engineering education. European Journal of Engineering Education, 37(2) : 125-132.

[3] Alexanderson G. L. .2000 .The random walks of George Pólya. , 29 : .

[4] Lee B. B.,Lee J. .2009 .Mathematics and academic success in three disciplines: Engineering, business and the humanities. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 13(3) : 95-105.

[5] Lei P.,Wu Q. .2007 .Introduction to structural equation modeling: Issues and practical considerations. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 26(3) : 33-43.

[6] Lessani A.,Yunus A. S.,Bakar K. A.,Khameneh Z. .2016 .Comparison of learning theories in mathematics teaching methods. Paper presented at the Fourth 21st CAF Conference in Harvard, : .

[7] López-Pérez M.-F.,Cardona S. C.,Lora J.,Abad A. .2016 .MATLAB as a tool as analysis and problem solving competency development in Chemical Engineering degree using MATLAB. Multidisciplinary Journal for Education, Social and Technological Sciences, 3(2) : 15-29.

[8] Maciejewski A. A.,Chen T. W.,Byrne Z. S.,De Miranda M. A.,Mcmeeking L. B. S.,Notaros B. M.,Reese M. D. .2017 .A holistic approach to transforming undergraduate electrical engineering education. IEEE Access, 5 : 8148-8161.

[9] MacKinnon D. P.,Lockwood C. M.,Williams J. .2004 .Confidence limits for the indirect effect: Distribution of the prod uct and resampling methods. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 39(1) : 4-128.

[10] McDonald R. P.,Ho M.-H. R. .2002 .Principles and practice in reporting structural equation analyses. Psychological Methods, 7(1) : 64-989X.

[11] McGilly K. .1994 .Classroom lessons: Integrating cognitive theory and classroom practice. , : .

[12] Moore T. J.,Miller R. L.,Lesh R. A.,Stohlmann M. S.,Kim Y. R. .2013 .Modeling in engineering: The role of representational fluency in students' conceptual understanding. Journal of Engineering Education, 102(1) : 141-178.

[13] Murray-Smith R.,Johansen T. .2020 .Multiple model approaches to nonlinear modelling and control. In, : 75-100.

[14] Nanayakkara K.,Peiris T. S. G. .2017 .Influence of mathematics on academic performance of engineering students: PLS -SEM approach. Communications in Statistics: Case Studies, Data Analysis and Applications, 2(3-4) : 106-111.

[15] Nevitt J.,Hancock G. R. .2001 .Performance of bootstrapping approaches to model test statistics and parameter standard error estimation in structural equation modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 8(3) : 353-377.

[16] Nunnally J.,Bernstein I. .1994 .. Psychometric theory (3rd ed.), : .

[17] Peftitsis D.,Mavroudi A. .2022 .Students perceptions on teaching design of power electronics using student -response systems: Thematic content analysis of interviews. IEEE Access, 10 : 64059-64071.

[18] Pólya G. .1945 .Tribute to Julio Rey Pastor: [On Completing Twenty-Five Years of His Performance in Argentina]. , : 51-62.

[19] Preacher K. J.,Rucker D. D.,Hayes A. F. .2007 .Addressing moderated mediation hypotheses: Theory, methods, and prescriptions. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 42(1) : 185-227.

[20] Pretorius L.,Van Mourik G. P.,Barratt C. .2017 .Ment of higher order thinking. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 29(2) : 389-401.

[21] Qadir J.,Yau K.-L. A.,Imran M. A.,Al-Fuqaha A. .2020 .Engineering education, moving into 2020s: Essential competencies for effective 21st century electrical & computer engineers. Paper presented at the 2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference., : .

[22] Raftery J. N.,Steinke C. M.,Nickerson A. B. .2010 .Engagement, residential treatment staff cognitive and behavioral disputations, and youths' problem-solving. Child & Youth Care Forum, 39(3) : 167-185.

[23] Rasyidi D. A.,Winarso W. .2020 .The proportion of cognitive aspects of question in mathematics textbook based on Marzano's taxonomy: An Indonesian case in implementing new curriculum. Eduma: Mathematics Education Learning and Teaching, 9(2) : 79-89.

[24] Raykov T.,Marcoulides G. A. .2006 .On multilevel model reliability estimation from the perspective of structural equation modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 13(1) : 7-141.

[25] Riyadi F. S.,Fathoni A. .2022 .The effectiveness of PMR learning model as materials of summary of 1st grader. Primary School Scientific Journal, 6(4) : 55149-718.

[26] Rylands L. J.,Shearman D. .2018 .Mathematics learning support and engagement in first year engineering. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 49(8) : 1133-1147.

[27] Saputri A. C.,Rinanto Y.,Prasetyanti N. M. .2019 .Improving students' critical thinking skills in cell -metabolism learning using stimulating higher order thinking skills model. International Journal of Instruction, 12(1) : 327-342.

Citations

Downloads

Views