Students' Retention of Mathematical Knowledge and Skills in Differential Equations

Abstract

This study investigates students' retention of mathematical knowledge and skills in two differential equations classes. Posttests and delayed posttests after 1 year were administered to students in inquiry‐oriented and traditional classes. The results show that students in the inquiry‐oriented class retained conceptual knowledge, as seen by their performance on modeling problems, and retained equal proficiency in procedural problems, when compared with students in the traditionally taught classes. The results of this study add additional support to the claim that teaching for conceptual understanding can lead to longer retention of mathematical knowledge .