Investigating factors affecting secondary school non-achievers in mathematics before and after the pandemic

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 67 - 76, 30.12.2023

Stylıanos Tsakirtzis , Ioannis Georgakopoulos , Chrıstos Tsıfakıs

Abstract

Acquiring knowledge in Mathematics is crucial as it serves as a fundamental component for a successful academic journey. However, numerous students encounter formidable challenges, leading to unsuccessful outcomes in their Mathematical courses. Therefore, identifying secondary school non-achievers in Mathematics is paramount. This necessity was accentuated during the pandemic. Any physical school operation was shut down during this period, leading to an increase in non-achievers. To identify non-achievers before and after the pandemic, we constructed two relevant risk models using a binary logistic regression analysis of student engagement data. The models were applied to a particular Mathematical course taught at a Greek Gymnasium. The findings proved that participation in the prescribed written tests was the main factor that affected the performance of non-achievers before the pandemic. Similarly, the risk model developed after the pandemic indicated that the same factor continued to determine student final achievement. However, the positive effect of the same factors (after the pandemic) reducing the probability of students’ failure was slightly increased.

Keywords

risk factors, risk model, pandemic, students’ engagement, math education

Supporting Institution

University of West Attica

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