Examining Learning Outcomes of Inquiry-Oriented Instruction in Introductory Linear Algebra Classes

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of inquiry-oriented instruction in introductory linear algebra classes by comparing the performance of students who learned introductory linear algebra concepts in inquiry-oriented settings (TIMES students) with the students who attended other linear algebra classes (Non-TIMES students). We used the assessment data from 461 students (271 TIMES and 190 Non-TIMES students) which were collected from 19 linear algebra classes at 15 institutes across the country. The linear algebra assessment was given as a post-test to all students, and TIMES students performed significantly better than Non-TIMES students. Overall, the difference in the performance of both groups was statistically significant in the entire assessment, procedural subscale, and conceptual scale of the assessment. In a pair-wise comparison of TIMES and Non-TIMES classes, only those TIMES classes performed significantly better than the Non-TIMES classes on the linear algebra assessment where instructors have more experience with inquiry-oriented teaching.