Abstract:

This paper describes the experience of using Learning Objects as a supporting tool in a remedial Algebra course, which aims to improve the academic level of students entering to the first semester of any degree in the Faculty of Engineering of the Universidad Católica de Oriente in Rionegro, Colombia, seeking to reduce the university attrition rate due to poor academic performance related to this subject.

Generally, students entering college to the first semester come from different schools; each student has different capabilities and knowledge, however, the education provided by the university must be the same for each student no matter their academic conditions. Students who get a good education from school do not have major difficulties in their adaptation to the university; on the other hand, there is a considerable number of students who arrive with certain academic deficiencies and adapting to the university can become problematic, often resulting in an early dropout of these students.

In response to this problem, the department of Exact Sciences of the Universidad Católica de Oriente, has been carrying out a remedial program which must be developed by every student entering a program in the Faculty of Engineering. This program has been running for three semesters showing positive results in the performance of the students, as well as the failure rate of the Algebra course, which is expected to result in a decrease in the attrition rate of the aforementioned faculty.

The remedial program of the first semester of 2015 was carried out during three weeks, eight groups took part in it, each with an average of 30 students. Five of the groups received reinforcement through traditional methodologies and the other three groups received reinforcement of the same themes, but supported in the use of learning objects. At the end of the remedial program it was shown that the three groups which received instructions with the support of learning objects, achieved significantly better results than students who received instructions through traditional methodologies.

From the results of this experience it can be inferred that the adoption of new technologies in the teaching - learning process, is relevant and effective; therefore is recommendable for teachers, researchers and other people involved in education, to start working in the creation of Information Technologies tools to complement the academic activities from the part of the students.

The results achieved in this process are promising and allow to visualize that in the long term, the development of these type of pedagogical tools, will help to reduce the attrition rate of students in engineering programs.

Keywords:

Learning Object, Remedial Education, University Attrition.