This blog will examine the theoretical orientations around Adult Numeracy Education
Maths anxiety
Perhaps more than any other subject, mathematics seem to strike very into the heart of many adults. Maths anxiety is a very real phenomenon for many and has been put increasingly under the research spotlight.
I've been working with a student with a very high level of maths anxiety. She had built into her statistics study programme a series of steps that seemed designed to ensure she failed the course (for example, not handing in any of the course work). This reinforced her feelings of hopelessness. I found that what worked with her was firstly, 'naming' the problem. We sat on the floor together and worked collaboratively through a series of questions - and discussed how the solutions could have been reached - in a very calm and relaxed way - for goodness sake - I didn't know a lot of the answers either! I also looked up some specific research on dealing with maths anxiety, drew the main points out and set her up with a successful pathway. She needed to have a plan of how to achieve this compulsory paper: where, how and when to access support, planning to get help before assignments were due, rather than missing course assessments, having a process for discussing confusing ideas, understanding the physiological anxiety and panic reactions and how these can be addressed. The situation has reminded me of just how damaging maths anxiety can be. I have a question though - are women more suited to dealing with the maths anxiety of women?
I've been working with a student with a very high level of maths anxiety. She had built into her statistics study programme a series of steps that seemed designed to ensure she failed the course (for example, not handing in any of the course work). This reinforced her feelings of hopelessness. I found that what worked with her was firstly, 'naming' the problem. We sat on the floor together and worked collaboratively through a series of questions - and discussed how the solutions could have been reached - in a very calm and relaxed way - for goodness sake - I didn't know a lot of the answers either! I also looked up some specific research on dealing with maths anxiety, drew the main points out and set her up with a successful pathway. She needed to have a plan of how to achieve this compulsory paper: where, how and when to access support, planning to get help before assignments were due, rather than missing course assessments, having a process for discussing confusing ideas, understanding the physiological anxiety and panic reactions and how these can be addressed.
ReplyDeleteThe situation has reminded me of just how damaging maths anxiety can be. I have a question though - are women more suited to dealing with the maths anxiety of women?