Cooperative Learning and Problem Solving: Decreasing Student Anxiety in the High School Mathematics Classroom
Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2014
Location
Ames Library, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-11-2014 4:00 PM
End Date
4-11-2014 5:00 PM
Disciplines
Education
Abstract
In the high school classroom, students overcome with math anxiety face extreme difficulty acquiring new math facts and skills. Anxiety levels are exasperated by the growing number of standardized tests. Student failure only breeds greater anxiety and places students further and further behind. Research focused on math anxiety indicates a cooperative learning classroom can give students a chance to become more engaged and more involved in their learning process and decreases their anxiety. In this literature review of educational research, I explored factors that contribute to student anxiety and possible teaching techniques that can effectively minimize it. Based upon the empirical research, cooperative learning and opportunities for problem solving are two ways in which math teachers can minimize student anxiety. To expand this research, I have explored literature on how technology can be used to increase student opportunities for collaboration and problem solving.
Cooperative Learning and Problem Solving: Decreasing Student Anxiety in the High School Mathematics Classroom
Ames Library, Illinois Wesleyan University
In the high school classroom, students overcome with math anxiety face extreme difficulty acquiring new math facts and skills. Anxiety levels are exasperated by the growing number of standardized tests. Student failure only breeds greater anxiety and places students further and further behind. Research focused on math anxiety indicates a cooperative learning classroom can give students a chance to become more engaged and more involved in their learning process and decreases their anxiety. In this literature review of educational research, I explored factors that contribute to student anxiety and possible teaching techniques that can effectively minimize it. Based upon the empirical research, cooperative learning and opportunities for problem solving are two ways in which math teachers can minimize student anxiety. To expand this research, I have explored literature on how technology can be used to increase student opportunities for collaboration and problem solving.