When Active Learning Is Inequitable: Women’s Participation Predicts Gender Inequities in Mathematical Performance

Abstract

This article investigates the implementation of inquiry-oriented instruction in 20 undergraduate mathematics classrooms. In contrast to conventional wisdom that active learning is good for all students, we found gendered performance differences between women and men in the inquiry classes that were not present in a noninquiry comparison sample. Through a secondary analysis of classroom videos, we linked these performance inequities to differences in women’s participation rates across classes. Thus, we provide empirical evidence that simply implementing active learning is insufficient, and that the nature of inquiry-oriented classrooms is highly consequential for improving gender equity in mathematics.

College Students' Learning Performance, Teaching Skills, and Teaching Innovation in Intercultural Communication Class: Evidence Based on Experiential Learning Theory

“…It is observed that the students who are provided with the opportunity of learning critically are more relaxed in learning performance as discussed in the study of Ghasemian Safaei and Farajzadegan ( 2012 ). On the other hand, the opportunity is important for the students because active experimentation makes them capable of learning in a controlled environment where the actual implications of learning help to enable the capacities for better grooming (Murray and Lang, 1997 ; Widanta et al, 2019 ; Hu et al, 2022 ; Reinholz et al, 2022 ). Therefore, the teachers need to improve the learning performance by adopting new environment ideas for enhancing the learning performance of the students (Reinholz et al, 2022 ).…”

“…In the current era, effective communication is considered one of the reliable factors for developing intercultural communication during the classes of students in the educational institute (Reinholz et al, 2022 ). However, it is also noted that traditional methods of teaching are not critical in modern studies, because the students are not getting the appropriate ability from the course material to improve their performance (Khoshnoodi Far et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Reflective observation is important to consider in the modern methods of teaching because the students are expected to learn in the best for their better development (Muhyiddin and Zharfa, 2018 ; Reinholz et al, 2022 ). Indeed, in the traditional learning system, the role of modern and developed parameters of learning was neglected because there were limited resources and opportunities (Freguia, 2017 ).…”

“…Indeed, in the traditional learning system, the role of modern and developed parameters of learning was neglected because there were limited resources and opportunities (Freguia, 2017 ). Similarly, according to Reinholz et al ( 2022 ) in the modern learning methods, the concept of active experimentation has emerged that is helping the students with practical implications of the learning material for the achievement necessary for sustainability in learning. It is noted that the students with practical application of the ideas are more relaxed and understanding of the environment.…”

“…Moreover, the innovative teaching methods are improving the quality of education for the students because the focus of these methods is students-oriented (Fullana and Pallisera, 2019 ). Importantly, according to the study of Reinholz et al ( 2022 ) student learning performance is critical to consider because it provides the opportunity for the students to develop the abilities for better grooming in the modern world. However, very less focus was considered on the effective performance of the students in the previous traditional methods of teaching.…”