DEALING WITH PRESSURE FROM MATH PROFESSORS AMONG FIRST YEAR CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS
Abstract
Mathematics is truly a complicated subject. It is mostly the problem of young civil engineering students when added with an extra pressure from their Math professors. This qualitative study aims to present the effects and to provide alternatives in dealing with pressure from their Math professors. Anthropological tools such as face-to-face interview and focus group discussion are used to gather data. This study revealed the effects of pressure from Math professors like mental block, eustress, anxiety, distress, cramming, loss of focus, depression, and coyness. The ways in dealing pressure from Math professors are relaxing, approaching family and friends, finding leisure, setting lower goals, talking to or approaching Math professors, eating, drawing or writing down thoughts, and having group study. It is therefore significant to study this gap between civil engineering students and their learning state towards their Math professors. This paper will help first year civil engineering students lessen the effects of pressure they feel from their Math professors and to provide a mini-survival kit in handling the pressure effectively.
Keywords: pressure, Math professors, civil engineering students, effects, alternative
Introduction
Pressure, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention. Pressure is the act of realizing that something at stake is relying on the results of the performance of a person. Usually, anxious and fearful feelings are involved in pressure (Weisinger, 2015). More often than not, students feel pressured academically. As for Bisht (1989), academic pressure is a state wherein a student is feeling a heavy demand of time and energy to reach academic goals.
Civil engineering is labeled to as one of the most difficult programs among degree courses offered in the university. Technical skills and knowledge in planning, design, construction, supervision, and maintenance of civil engineering works are catered by this program. It requires a lot of time, energy, and effort to thrive in this program. It does not only provide skills, but it also requires skills to survive. Top of it all is the mathematical skills.
The University of Southeastern Philippines is well-known for its high standards when it comes to the quality of education. It is also known for its engineering department which produces board passers in the licensure examination particularly civil engineering. This department holds the most exceptional Math professors in the university.
Due to the high standard of education in the university and the known professors in Mathematics, students feel academically pressured. The study of Beilock (2011) and her colleagues have shown that distinct set of phenomena such as stereotyping that women can’t do Math (termed stereotype threat; Steele, 1997), taking college admission tests, chronic fear in of Math experience when sitting in Math class show common effects they have on cognitive functioning. The availability of working-memory to meet to a task’s information processing requirements and to manage its execution is being reduced by these stressful academic situations (Beilock, 2008).
Most of the time, first year engineering students feel this kind of pressure since they are new to the environment and are still coping up to the teaching style of their professors. In the previous semester, many engineering students failed in their Math subjects, College Algebra and Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. Most of these students are under professors who are known to imply pressure on their students. This is one of the situation where the coping efforts of the students are on high demands which leads to negative emotional states or creates strains on other areas of life functioning. But the individual’s inner personality is still where the impression of such situation depends on (Conopio, 1993).
The researchers aim to present documentation of how first year Civil Engineering deal with pressure from Math professors. It also investigates and analyzes the effects of why students experience this kind of pressure. This paper will help future engineering students to be knowledgeable and prepared when they will be undergoing to such situations.
Research Questions
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What are the effects of pressure dealt by first year civil engineering students from Math professors?
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How do first year civil engineering students deal with pressure from Math professors?
Methodology
This study is a qualitative research on how to deal pressure from Math professors among University of Southeastern Philippines’ Civil Engineering Freshmen day students by integrating the theories from mySahana organization (2011) and of Beilock (2011) and Stiffelman (2014).
Studies about pressure from professors were taken from electronic journals, books, articles of scholars, and from the libraries.
Anthropological tools such as face-to-face interview and focus group discussion were used in collecting and gathering the data. The questions in the face-to-face interview and focus group discussion were validated by Mr. Sajed S. Ingilan before giving it to the informants.
A letter of approval was sent to the Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Angel de Vera, Jr. to conduct the study. Letters of permission were also given to the respondents asking for their time to be interviewed.
Afterwards, the interviews were conducted to the 10 informants coming from the CE Freshmen Day students, ages 15-18 years old who suffer academic pressure from their professors. To establish a valid corpora, the informants should have a minimum number of 10 (Creswell, 2000). The informants were examined as to why and how they feel this kind of pressure and what are their ways in lessening it. For the focus group discussion, the number of informants were five. Clarifications of the answers were conducted. Questions were structured and the respondents could utter their answers in English, Filipino, or Bisaya.
In the documentation, the researchers used cameras, pens, recorders, and papers.
The collected and gathered data were interpreted and analyzed by the researchers that is used in this study. The researchers used thematic analysis in interpreting the gathered data. The analyzed and interpreted data were validated by Ms. Princess Nel-an Olo.
Afflictions in College Algebra
Effects of Pressure from Math Professors among First Year Civil Engineering Students
Pressure comes in many forms. An article from mySahana organization stated that pressure from parents causes children to experience various symptoms of depression, anxiety and also numerous ailments that keeps them out of school instead of thriving under pressure for the betterment of oneself.
As teachers of professors being the second parents of the students, they as well impart certain kind of pressure. This study revealed that there are various effects of pressure from Math professors among first year civil engineering students namely mental block, eustress, anxiety, distress, cramming, loss of focus, depression, and coyness.
Mental Block
Mental block is common among students especially in quiz and exam hours. 6 out of 10 respondents stated that mental block is caused by pressure from their Math professors. Mental block is described as a psychological obstacle that hinders one to do or perform a certain skill or activity (Rew, 2014).
Respondent 2 described what she feels in times of exams when she is having mental block. She stated that she’s like a blank space, wherein it indicates a state of feeling nothing, cannot figure out something, or cannot clearly imagine something in the head.
Respondent 9 stated that she felt shy when she is having mental block. This indicates that she cannot do well on communication wherein it is a part of asking questions for clarifying instructions that is mostly needed when taking exams.
Respondent 3 stated that she is having mental block not only in exams but also in lectures. She cannot catch up with the topic which causes her to misunderstand everything and to see things in a complicated manner that will indicate a problem in her learning state.
Eustress
‘Eustress’ means the positive characteristics of stress which is also in contrast with ‘distress’ which depicts its negative characteristics (Selye, 1974).During the interview, 6 out of 10 participants view or take pressure as somehow what pushes or causes them to study. This is called eustress. This is somehow a good effect to the students. Pressure from Math professors makes the students feel that they need to focus and study hard.
According to Respondent 1, she felt that the pressure she gets from Math professors pushed her to be more serious and focused to the things she must take on, especially on studying. The respondent is forced to do actions that will cause good effects such as doing better on exams or heightening their grades, which is pertaining to eustress.
Anxiety
Pressure from Math professors makes the students feel nervous especially during discussions and exams. Of the 10 respondents, 4 of them said that they have experienced anxiety as a result of pressure from their Math professors. This results to constant worries and fears that can distract the students in their learning.
Respondent 10 elaborated what he felt when pressure hits him. He explained that his nerves are cracking and the pressure is really getting into his bones which indicates something that is a very bad feeling yet he cannot explain the discomfort. It is a state of being anxious or having anxiety wherein you feel uncertainty or discomfort that you cannot define or explain.
Respondent 4 clearly stated that when she felt anxiety, she knew that pressure already hit her. She cannot define it but she felt that she is in the state of being anxious.
Distress
The presence of negative psychological states indicates a negative psychological response to a stressor, known as distress (Simmons and Nelson, 2001). The common stressor among students is the pressure from Math professors. This kind of stress is considered as the opposite of eustress. 3 out of 10 respondents said that distress is acting upon them. The students’ ability to perform schoolwork efficiently, their mental and physical health are greatly affected by academic stress (Clark and Rieker, 1986; Felsten and Wilcox, 1992).
Respondent 5 stated that when pressure had hit him, he felt stressed which caused him to feel nervous. The nervousness caused a discomfort on his mental state.
Respondent 3 clearly statedthe effects that he gets when he feels pressured from his Math professors. He indicated that the pressure caused him to struggle for it distracts his study rhythm.
Other effects that result from pressure from Math professors which are experienced by first year civil engineering students are cramming, loss of focus, depression, and coyness. These effects are minimal but are still being undergone by students. Pressure can impact different people with different outcomes. As pressure from Math professors being the main stressor among civil engineering students accumulate, their coping ability is being strained and their physical and psychological resources diminishing. The probability of having physical illness and psychological distress will follow (Lazarus & Folkman, 1994; Pearlin, 1999)
Respondent 3 stated that losing of focus on exams is also from the result of the intimidation or distraction he sees when his Math professors appear. This makes him unconfident with his learning as the effect of the pressure from Math professors.
Ways of Dealing Pressure from Math Professors among
First Year Civil Engineering Students
This study also revealed that there are eight ways to deal pressure from Math professors among first year civil engineering students. These ways are relaxing, approaching family and friends, finding leisure, setting lower goals, talking or approaching Math professors, eating, drawing or writing down thoughts, and having group study.
Relaxing
Relaxing, as defined by Oxford Dictionary, is to become less anxious and be free from work. This study revealed thatrelaxing is the most common and effective way in dealing pressure from Math professors.Setting a schedule for having fun and doing what is being loved most is quite necessary (O, 2014). Sleeping and eating healthy food are some of the basics that should be started (Stiffelman, 2014). This study showed that most of the respondents do have a time for themselves, relaxing, shaking things off before their examinations.
Respondent 2 stated that she is already using this way as an alternative in coping up with this kind of pressure. She studies for a short period of time yet she schedules a relaxing time that lasts for hours in order for her to be refreshed on starting a new learning state that will help her to understand things better.
Respondent 4 accepts this way as a good alternative in coping up with this pressure supported by a study she already knew: ‘The maximum capacity of the brain is only for 45 minutes’. This indicates that she follows what she learned about the study and scheduled a relaxing time or breaks during studying.
Approaching Family and Friends
Respondent 1: “Sometimes, I feel like I’m going to fail this subject but they always tell me to think positive and to do my best always.” Respondent 10: “If I’m going to tell them that I’m pressured, for example in the present situation that I am in, they are giving me advices that truly help on coping this kind of pressure.” Approaching family and friends comes right next to relaxing as most effective way to deal pressure. 9 out of 10 respondents said that talking or having time with their family and friends help them cope with the pressure from their Math professors. Worrying about the ability to succeed no matter what reason it is, is being buffered by claiming important values like family and friends (Beilock, 2011).
The respondents stated that they are getting contact with their friends and families about the situation they are in due to the pressure they feel from their Math professors. They can clearly express what they feel about this pressure and this indicates a feeling of comfort and a reaction of their friends and families by giving positive compliments, advices and cheers that helped them in coping or facing this kind of pressure.
Finding Leisure
Leisure is considered as one of the escapes of the respondents from all their academic stress. Of the 10 participants, 7 of them tend to find leisure to deal with pressure from their Math professors. Trying to engage in leisure would never hurt. Spending time in enjoyable activities is called recreation. It is very important to have recreations and leisure to improve health, boost confidence, have a chance of showing talents, improve interpersonal skills, socialize, broaden horizon, and of course, to be set free (Oak, 2016).
Respondent 6 stated that playing DOTA 2 with this friends has helped him cope up with this pressure. DOTA 2 is an online game that needs teamwork and cooperation that will result in enjoyment and satisfaction. This is a kind of recreation wherein he sets himself free from the pressure and focusing on enjoyment wherein considered as a formof leisure.
Respondent 4 elaborated what she does to get enjoyed. She considered these things as a form of leisure and it serves as an escape on her problems like the pressure she felt from her Math professors.
Setting Lower Goals
Stiffelman (2014) suggested that students should lower their goals. It does not mean that it is a state of being a slacker, but instead, by doing so, studentswill achieve more. This concept will help relieve stress and boost academic success. This goal must be set in order to feel satisfied in your performance. 6 of the 10 respondents had set their goals to the standards that they can achieve easily.
Results also show that students who aim higher goals mostly does not reach it, but instead fails and causes disappointments.
Respondent 2 stated that she is disappointed with the fact that she failed on a Math subject because she set a high goal on it. She explained that setting a higher goal caused her disappointment when the outcome was not what she really expected.
Respondent 3 stated that he wanted to be a Dean’s Lister yet was disappointed when he found out that the Math subjects of this university are very difficult, so he was indulged in the idea wherein he must be contented on having a passing grade rather.
Talking to / Approaching Math Professors
To deal with the pressure coming from Math professors, students need to get to know them. They could be the greatest factor why students are feeling this pressure, but they are also the greatest asset students have in reducing this pressure. Professors can help students figure out on what materials to focus on and work with what concept students have been struggling about (Lucier, 2016). 5 out of 10 respondents considered talking or approaching their Math professors as a way to deal the pressure which also came from them.
Respondent 8 said that it was really a good choice to approach your professors in order to clarify some topics and get a clear way on confusing parts of the lesson. It helped him understand well the lectures.
Fear of Math professors hinders one’s capability of learning. Respondent 9 stated that she have been approaching her Math professors, and she can already understand their topics.
Eating
Eating has always been an escape from all the problems; financially, emotionally, or even from pressure. The most recommended foods to eat are high-fibered, carbohydrate-rich foods and fruits and vegetables. Foods to avoid include caffeine, sugar, and high-fat foods.
This study revealed that 5 of the 10 participants are pressure-eaters. One of their ways to deal with pressure from professors is to eat.
Respondent 9 clearly explained that when she felt the pressure, she seeks relief in eating. She thinks that eating really helped her a lot.
Respondent 10 explained that when he is taking a break, eating is one of the options he wanted to do. Eating makes him enjoy the time and it helps him a lot in coping the pressure he is feeling.
Drawing / Writing Down Thoughts
Beilock (2011) has found out that writing down or drawing thoughts before the exam in a blank paper lessens the pressure. Beilock (2011) and her colleagues conducted a test instructing their respondents to write down their thoughts before taking an exam. Their findings revealed that those students who followed them have got higher scores than those who did not.
3 of the 10 respondents did use this way as an escape for the pressure he is feeling.
Respondent 3 found a way in expressing his feelings by drawing his thoughts. He considered drawing as a form of comfort and thus helped him in coping with the pressure from his Math professors.
Having Group Study
Joining a study group will help students get things be done on time. This will also help students to study effectively, let them understand their reference material, and let them integrate with social time with their homework (Lucier, 2016).
2 out of the 10 respondents find this way as an effective one as it helps them understand the topic clearer and better.
Respondent 3 explained that when his classmates get pressured, they conduct a group study to make things done faster. Group study is considered a form of question-answer time wherein they tend to understand things better by questioning each other and mixing their ideas to form a good concept on the things they are taking on. This is a good way on coping pressure from Math professors as well as to strengthen everyone’s socialization.
Pressure from Math professors causes a number of effects to the first year students of Civil Engineering. It is composed of several negative effects and a few positive effects. Even though it is not a simple problem that can be easily coped up, there are still several ways or alternatives that can help the students lessen the pressure they feel from their Math professors.
Conclusion
The focal point of this qualitative research approaches the effects and ways of dealing with pressure from Math professors. As studied, there are effects on pressure from Math professors and ways on how to deal with it. This pressure causes students to experience mental block, feel both eustress and distress, feel anxiety, experience cramming, lose their focus, feel depression, and trigger coyness.
With these alarming effects, there are some effective ways on how to deal with this kind of pressure. The most effective way is to find relaxation. The other ways are as follows: approaching family and friends, finding leisure, setting goals, talking to Math professors, eating, participating in Math classes, drawing or writing down thoughts, and conducting a group study.
The effects and ways of dealing pressure from Math professors were analyzed based on face to face interviews and focus group discussion. The ability of this paper to help future civil engineering students to deal with pressure from their Math professors is what makes it significant. It is of this importance that we need to study the nature of this pressure and come up with other ways on how to deal with it.
As college engineering students, it is in need to conduct further studies about this matter to lessen the circumstances of failing Math subjects for years to come.
References
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ABOUT ME
Riamieh S. Dinsay, 17, is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City.
She is a graduate of Notre Dame of Kidapawan College-IBED as 1st Honorable Mention. During her high school days, she is part of the school’s Science Investigatory Project. She was also a quizzer in Math. She is inclined with Mathematics, Literature and General Information. She is currently studying in the University of Southeastern Philippines with the course Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Riamieh S. Dinsay
ABOUT ME
Laurice Fe Marie D. Vivar, 17, is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City.
She spent her secondary level at Nieves Villarica National High School, Samal Island, Davao Del Norte and graduated as Third Honorable mention. Her research interest includes constructing infrastructural buildings on local and industrialized areas and strong foundations for creating bridge support beams.
Laurice Fe Marie D. Vivar
ABOUT ME
Cleo Alyka Paynandos, is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City.
She is a graduate of Davao City National High School. She is interested in reading books. She joined contests in her high school like Olympics in Math and Science. She is now studying at the University of Southeastern Philippines taking up the course Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Cleo Alyka Paynandos
ABOUT ME
Jon Paul M. Cloma, is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City.
He graduated at Manay National High School as class Valedictorian. Back in his high school days, he was a Copyreader and Headline Writer in the school publication and won two-time champion in the Division Schools Press Conference. At present, he is studying in the University of Southeastern Philippines taking up the course Bachelor ofScience in Civil Engineering.
Jon Paul M. Cloma
ABOUT ME
Mark John Amimita, is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City.
He is a graduate of F. Bangoy National High School. He was also a part of their school’s team in Science Investigatory Project and received awards. He is interested in reading novels, singing and dancing. He is now in the University of Southeastern Philippines taking up the course Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Mark John Amimita
ABOUT ME
Shejie Olever Jabillo, is currently taking up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Obrero, Davao City.
He graduated at Kapalong National High School. He has his passion in Economics and Entrepreneurship. In his high school days, he was also engaged in Math Quiz Bees. Presently, he is studying Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of Southeastern Philippines.
Shejie Olever Jabillo
Respondent 2:“… and in times of exam that I really forgot what I have studied and it feels like blank space baby.”
Respondent 9:“Sometimes, uhm, mental block. Sometimes, uhm, I feel shy.”
Respondent 3: “Well, uhm, that’s it, I can’t catch up. It’s, it’s too hard to understand; everything is so complicated.”
Respondent 1:“For me, uhm, I feel that I am forced to be serious and that I need to be more focused because of the pressure I feel from them.”
“Mmmm, because of pressure, I realize that I need to do better.”
Respondent 4: “Pressure is …. I know that I’m pressured from my professors when I’m always anxious. I don’t know how to say that, anxious. But anxiety is one of the effects of the pressure from Math professors.”
Respondent 5: “Uhm, I feel stressed. I get stressed, I feel nervous and yeah, etcetera.”
Respondent 3: “Of course, if you feel pressured, your study rhythm gets destroyed. That’s it, I really am struggling.”
Respondent 3: “Oh that. That’s right. You cannot be confident with your learnings because of the pressure that you are feeling which given by your professors. Then, sometimes during exams, whenever you see your professor it feels like he or she is distracting you.”
Respondent 2: “I study for 15 minutes then take a break for 3 hours. That’s it. So that my mind will be refreshed then I’ll continue. Yes, for 3 hours my mind will be refreshed.”
Respondent 1: “Sometimes, I feel like I’m going to fail this subject but they always tell me to think positive and to do my best always.”
Respondent 10: “If I’m going to tell them that I’m pressured, for example in the present situation that I am in, they are giving me advices that truly help on coping this kind of pressure.”
Respondent 6: “We do play DOTA 2 with my friends to distract me from all these pressure I am feeling.”
Respondent 4:“Oh my God, I talk a lot with other people about celebrities, movies. I go to cinema house, I read, I sleep, and yeah that’s how I do it. And of course, all of them helped, because they’re, they’re like my escape from every pressure I’ve had.”
Respondent 2: “Yes before I have tried setting a goal in my Math subjects but now, I don’t think so. I feel like I am only setting goals on other subjects.”
Respondent 3:“Before, I really strived to be one of the Dean’s Lister. But when I experienced the level of difficulty of Math in this university, I was already contented with a passing grade.”
Respondent 8: “I did approach my Math professor one time because it can’t be helped. The topic was very confusing, and my classmates also did not understand the topic, so I was left with no choice.”
Respondent 9: “For now, I have been approaching my Math professors since I can already understand the topic. But in the previous semester, I was really afraid of my Math professors, so I did not.”
Respondent 9: “I am always a pressure eating woman. If I feel nervous, my reliever is food. That’s how it is.”
Respondent 10: “You really need a break by eating a lot of food and enjoying other things because it helps a lot.”
Respondent 3: “I actually draw my thoughts. I have expressed my feelings because of this and it does help me.”
Respondent 3: “In our section, if one feels pressured, all is pressured as well. What we do is we conduct group study to clarify some questions in our mind with the help of the group.”
Respondent 10: “I think the very effect on me when I feel pressured with my professors is that I think my nerves are cracking and it’s really getting into my bones. I just can’t explain.”
Respondent 2: “I study for 15 minutes then take a break for 3 hours. That’s it. So that my mind will be refreshed then I’ll continue. Yes, for 3 hours my mind will be refreshed.”
Respondent 4: “I have heard about that. I’ve read that 45 minutes is the maximum time that our brain is capable of working properly.”