Group by subject or by ability? Tertiary mathematics for engineering students

Abstract

The mathematics topics taught to engineering students at university are ostensibly no different to those taught to mathematics majors, so should these students be taught together or separately? Should engineering students be segregated by ability in their mathematics classes? This study analyses the grades of over 1000 engineering students, and finds that both weaker and more able students were disadvantaged by being taught in segregated classes.

Keywords:

• engineering mathematics
• ability streaming
• subject streaming