On-line engineering mathematics testing and assessment

The authors are currently developing a new strategy for mathematics assessment and remediation at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT), USA. As part of this strategy, electrical engineering students take an online test of their ability to use mathematics to solve con text-based problems. In this paper, the authors report on the result of the computer test for students in an electrical engineering orientation class at UNR. The results indicate a reluctance on the part of the students to accept their mathematics deficiencies, which hinders any attempt at remediation to reduce attrition