Cultivating Calculus Excellence: Smart Learning and Peer Tutoring for Math Empowerment in Female Science College Students

Abstract

The aim of the current research is to investigate the impact of integrating the learning for mastery strategy supported by smart electronic applications and the peer tutoring strategy in teaching Calculus 1 on the development of academic achievement and self-efficacy in mathematics among female students in the College of Science, Saudi Arabia. To achieve the research objective, a quasi-experimental design was employed. The research instruments included an achievement test and a mathematics self-efficacy scale, which were distributed to 60 female students from the Biology Department at the College of Science. The research results revealed statistically significant differences between the average scores of the experimental group and the control group in the post application of the achievement test and the mathematics self-efficacy scale in favor of the students in the experimental group. The current research recommends the importance of utilizing the integration of various teaching strategies, such as learning for mastery and peer tutoring, in teaching Calculus 1 at the university level. It also suggests training faculty members to use these strategies to develop different aspects for their students, such as self-efficacy in mathematics.