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Investigation of Mastery Math Lab Impact on Undergraduate College Algebra Student Success

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Title: Investigation of Mastery Math Lab Impact on Undergraduate College Algebra Student Success
Language: English
Authors: Amy Lauren Sanchez-Lima (ORCID 0009-0006-9532-3866), Cynthia Marie Garza (ORCID 0009-0009-7998-7699), Marie Janelle Tacloban (ORCID 0000-0002-3824-8242), Rocio Benabentos (ORCID 0000-0002-5597-2152), Helen Urpi Wagner-Coello (ORCID 0009-0004-6383-5053), Jeremiah Hower (ORCID 0000-0002-8603-9488), Roneet Merkin (ORCID 0000-0002-9996-084X), Kieron Thomas (ORCID 0009-0002-0864-4516), Edgar Fuller (ORCID 0000-0003-4130-090X)
Source: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. 2026 14(1):66-85.
Availability: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: 2225201
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Mathematics Achievement, College Mathematics, Algebra, Student Centered Learning, Active Learning, Mathematics Instruction, Introductory Courses, Learning Laboratories, Student Attitudes, Instructional Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Florida
ISSN: 2147-611X
Abstract: Student success in introductory mathematics courses has been a topic of national concern due to the high failure rates associated with these courses and the impact on STEM degree retention and completion. At Florida International University (FIU), College Algebra underwent an extensive reform in 2012 leading to the implementation of the Mastery Math Lab (MML). Within this lab, students engage in a student-centered active-learning mathematics environment where they can work through problems at their own pace while receiving immediate feedback from faculty, peers, and Learning Assistants. This study aims to determine the impact of the Mastery Math Lab on student performance, by analyzing student data (i.e., pre- and post-implementation). Results show a significant upward trend in the percentage of students passing the course after implementation, as well as a significant increase in the average course grade, with consistent improvements. Analysis of student perception survey responses suggest that students perceive Mastery Math Lab as beneficial for their success in College Algebra and the integration of undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) to be conducive to their learning.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494429
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Investigation of Mastery Math Lab Impact on Undergraduate College Algebra Student Success
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amy+Lauren+Sanchez-Lima%22">Amy Lauren Sanchez-Lima</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9532-3866">0009-0006-9532-3866</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cynthia+Marie+Garza%22">Cynthia Marie Garza</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7998-7699">0009-0009-7998-7699</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marie+Janelle+Tacloban%22">Marie Janelle Tacloban</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3824-8242">0000-0002-3824-8242</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rocio+Benabentos%22">Rocio Benabentos</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5597-2152">0000-0002-5597-2152</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Helen+Urpi+Wagner-Coello%22">Helen Urpi Wagner-Coello</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6383-5053">0009-0004-6383-5053</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jeremiah+Hower%22">Jeremiah Hower</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8603-9488">0000-0002-8603-9488</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roneet+Merkin%22">Roneet Merkin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9996-084X">0000-0002-9996-084X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kieron+Thomas%22">Kieron Thomas</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0864-4516">0009-0002-0864-4516</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Edgar+Fuller%22">Edgar Fuller</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4130-090X">0000-0003-4130-090X</externalLink>)
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  Data: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Florida%22">Florida</searchLink>
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  Data: Student success in introductory mathematics courses has been a topic of national concern due to the high failure rates associated with these courses and the impact on STEM degree retention and completion. At Florida International University (FIU), College Algebra underwent an extensive reform in 2012 leading to the implementation of the Mastery Math Lab (MML). Within this lab, students engage in a student-centered active-learning mathematics environment where they can work through problems at their own pace while receiving immediate feedback from faculty, peers, and Learning Assistants. This study aims to determine the impact of the Mastery Math Lab on student performance, by analyzing student data (i.e., pre- and post-implementation). Results show a significant upward trend in the percentage of students passing the course after implementation, as well as a significant increase in the average course grade, with consistent improvements. Analysis of student perception survey responses suggest that students perceive Mastery Math Lab as beneficial for their success in College Algebra and the integration of undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) to be conducive to their learning.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 66
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: College Mathematics
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      – SubjectFull: Active Learning
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Florida
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