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SME6044 –
        Contemporary Issues in
        Mathematics Education




MATHEMATICS ANXIETY
                   Group members :

       1.   Chung Wai Cheong – M20102001089
       2.   Taw Mei Yoke – M20111000335
       3.   Teh Guan Leong – M20112001445
       4.   Wong Wai Lun – M20112001446
       5.   Wong Wang Yuen – M20111000734
INTRODUCTION
What is Math Anxiety?
1. Webster's New Word Dictionary explains anxiety as
  worry or uneasiness about what may happen.

2. Feelings of tension, apprehension, or even dread that
  interferes with the ordinary manipulation of number
  and the solving of mathematical problems (Ashcraft &
  Faust, 1994)

3. The panic, helplessness, paralysis and mental
  disorganization that arises among some people when
  they are required to solve a mathematical problem
  (Tobias & Weissbrod, 1980)
What is Math Anxiety?
4. Like stage fright, math anxiety can be a disabling
   condition, causing humiliation, resentment, and even
   panic. (http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/anxiety/)

5. Math anxiety can cause on to forget and lose one's self
   confidence (Tobias, S., 1993)

6. Anxiety is something felt, an unpleasant emotional
   (affective) state that is universally experienced.
   (Freud, 1936)
Some quotes from Students
     "Some people can do math - not me!"

"When I look at a math problem, my mind goes
   completely blank. I feel stupid, and I can't
 remember how to do even the simplest things"

"In math there's always one right answer, and if
   you can't find it you've failed. That makes me
                        crazy."
Some quotes from Students
 "Math exams terrify me. My palms get sweaty, I
breathe too fast, and often I can't even make my
   eyes focus on the paper. It's worse if I look
     around, because I'd see everybody else
working, and know that I'm the only one who can't
                      do it"

  "Sometimes I do problems my own way. Even
  though I get the right answer my teacher would
    not give me credit because I didn't do it the
                 way he showed us"
MATHS ANXIETY:
  SYMPTOMS
Math Anxiety: Symptoms
Psychological Symptoms:

•   Confusion
•   Lack of confidence
•   Panic-stricken worry
•   Negative thoughts
•   Sudden memory loss
Math Anxiety: Symptoms
Physiological Symptoms:

•   Rapid heart beat
•   Sweating
•   Nausea
•   Stomach disorders
•   Headaches
Why is Understanding
Math Anxiety Important?
Mathematics Anxiety Presentation
The Positive Cycle
The Negative Cycle
If you have high confidence in math
If you have high math anxiety
The Math Anxiety Process
From Cynthia Arem, Conquering Math Anxiety: A Self-Help Workbook, 1993, p. 20
MYTHS AND
MISCONCEPTIONS
MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTION
1. Aptitude for mathematics is inborn
2. To be good at mathematics you have to be
   good at calculating
3. Maths requires logic, not creativity
4. In mathematics, what's important is getting
   the right answer
5. Men are naturally better than women at
   mathematical thinking
CAUSES / FACTORS
Math anxiety has been related to
 personality type, a negative attitude
  toward mathematics, mathematics
 avoidance, mathematics background,
     instructor behaviors, level of
  mathematics achievement, lack of
   confidence, and negative school
experiences (Bursal & Paznokas, 2006).
Causes / Factors
    From the research that conducted
    (Puteh, 1998), it was found that the causes of
    mathematics anxiety were related to:

•   teacher personality
•   public examination
•   affective domain
•   feelings, worries, difficulties
•   parents
•   peer group
•   relevance
Teacher personality and their
teaching style
•   Bias                 Aiken (1976) reported
•   creativity
                         more generally that the
                         attitudes of teachers
•   individual help      themselves towards
•   force/thread         mathematics have and
                         influence on their pupils'
•   not attentive        attitudes and also an
•   authority/culture    influence on the style and
                         methods that they will
•   blame                then adopt in imparting
•   public humiliation   the knowledge and skills
•   unrealistic
                         of mathematics in their
                         turn.
    expectation
The teacher should control behavior, but not
          thought (Buxton, 1981).

The mathematics teacher needs to be creative
  in his teaching methods, so students do not
    lose interest. This idea is supported by a
  study conducted by Pyne, Bates, and Turner
                     (1995).
Many teachers promote the false idea that
females cannot perform as well as males in
mathematics (Jackson & Leffingwell, 1999).

Again, the teacher needs to be aware of his
  words, sighs, and overall body language
       (Jackson & Leffingwell,1999).
Public examination
•   exam-oriented     Betz (1978) revealed
•   pressure
                      that the level of
                      mathematics anxiety
•   timed test        reported was related to
•   future
                      scores on a standardized
                      mathematics
•   rating            achievement test.
•   filter
•   panic
•   pass experience
Affective domain
Modified version of Mitchell and Collins (1991,
p. 30)
Attitudes     Expectation      Anxiety        Disability
"Maths is     "I'll be         Flight/        Unable
difficult     humiliated"      avoidance      to think
for me"

    Some students encounter shock when transfer from
                 primary to secondary.
Feeling, worries, difficulties
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
EDUCATION IN S.E. ASIA Vol. 26, No. 2

Significant differences in feelings were noted
with regards to the rank order of the
problems they chose to solve.
Feeling, worries, difficulties
Which problem to solve first?
Easiest problem, familiar problem, minimum
working, understand problem

Which problem to solve last?
Multiple steps, more time required, lack of
understanding
Parental expectation - their
aspiration and standards
•   high pay            As stated earlier that a
•   expectation/
                        student's self esteem
                        and mathematical
    standard            confidence is directly
•   practical support
                        related to their parent's
                        perception and
•   comparison          expectation according to
•   role model          Kober (1991)
Teachers and parents that are afraid of
mathematics pass that on to their students
  and children (Furner & Duffy, 2002).
Peer group influences
•   lack of support   Shapiro's (1962) findings
•   knowledge
                      indicated that peer
                      attitudes in elementary
•   effects           school may indeed be
                      influential, especially in
                      the cases of girls.
Relevance
•   usage/application
    in daily life
•   constant failure
•   memorized as
    solution
•   understanding is
    critical
•   use as punishment
Mathematics certainly means
 many things to many people
(Marzita binti Puteh, 2002).
IMPLICATION
STUDENTS' SIDE OF
     ANXIETY
Mathematics Anxiety Presentation
The Mathematics Anxiety Pattern
 (Puteh, 2002)

                              Avoidance




Negative      I’m poor in   Fear
experiences   mathematics   , panic, worry, anxiety
involving
mathematics

                            Unable to perform
Contribution to the formation of negative
attitudes and mathematics anxiety (Puteh,
2002)
• Fear of asking for help
• Teachers blaming students for not
  understanding.
• Teacher ridiculing students
• Teacher’s strictness and fierceness.
• Use of treats and force by teachers
• Teachers not showing interest in their
  students
• Teaching style which emphasis the transfer
 of information and not attention to the
 learning of the individual.
Pressure of examination and its effect on
students.

 Betz (1978)- the level of mathematics
 anxiety was related to scores . [low math
 anxiety , high achievement scores, and vice
 versa]
Family/Parental & Peer Group Influences
Towards Mathematics

 Poffeenberger and Norton (1959)- Parents
 affect on child’s attitude and performance
 in 3 ways.
 1) by parental encouragement,
 2) by parent’s own attitudes,
 3) by parental expectations of child’s
    achievement.
 This two factors have great impact on
 students performance and math anxiety
Family/Parental ,Teacher & Peer Group
Studies
• Kenschaft (1991) reported that parent’s
    support or lack of support is an important in
    students’ attitude and participation in
    mathematics instruction.
•   Dossey (1992) considered teachers important
    role in shaping attitudes towards
    mathematics.
•   Harris (1995) concluded that peer
    affiliations become increasingly more
    influential on shaping attitudes than parents
    and teachers.
Math Anxiety in Elementary and
     Secondary School Students
            A review of the Literature by

     Allen Wigfield(1988)      Judith L.Meece
     University of Michigan    University of North
                               Carolina

Journal of Educational Psychology 1988. Vol.80. No.2,
210-215
Introduction
 Studies have documented the negative effects
 of math anxiety on math performance and
 achievement.

 Students Math anxiety may impact on their
 ability to learn Math Effectively.

 Liebert and Morris (1967) distinguished two
 component of test anxiety,

WORRY-cognitive components.
EMOTIONALLY-affective components
Purpose of study to examine age and
gender difference in Math Anxiety
• Age (High) – Pressure more, Anxiety level
  (High)
• (Elementary school does not emphasize
  evaluation as much)
• Gender: Boys & Girls did not differ in their
    Math WORRY report. (Indicates they are
    equally concern about doing well in Math.
•   Girls more negative affection reactions to
    Math compare to boys. ( Indicates when
    Math harder, girls more likely to stop taking
    math)
Suggestion by researchers
• Suggest that intervention programs
• To alleviate the negative effects of math
    anxiety must deal with both affective and
    cognitive aspects of math anxiety.
•   Should be implemented during the
    elementary school years
•   Before children’s anxiety about math
    becomes strongly established.
How Negative Expectancies and
Attitudes Undermine Females’ Math
   Confidence and Performance:

        A review of the Literature by
         Jennifer Gutbezahl (1995)
    University of Massachusetts, Amherst
                  ED 380 279
Summary
• Societies as a whole believe females are less
    mathematically capable than males.
•   This belief is communicated to parents and
    teachers, who pass it along to students.
•   Girls come to view their failures in math as
    evidence that they are indeed inferior and
    to view their successes as flukes.
Cycle of Low Expectancy on female
Students by Parents and Teachers

                  Lower                        Lower
               Performance                  Expectations




          Negative
        Expectancies                                 Parents
         & Attitudes                               Expectations
         about Math




                              Teachers
                             Expectations
Continue
• This belief reinforces the belief that females
    are not capable of doing well in math.
•   Females stop taking advanced math courses
    in high school or college, believing them too
    difficult.
•   In the end, the expectancies of their parents
    and teachers are fulfilled and society was
    further “proof” of females’ inferior math
    ability
Surprisingly about this cycle
• Differences between males’ and females’
    performance is quite small .
•   There is no sig. difference between boys and
    girls match achievement in elementary
    school, and few difference at any age
    (Feingold,1988;NAEP,1983; Shipman, Krantz
    & Silver,1992)
•   And these differences are getting smaller
    over time (Hyde & Linn, 1988)
Future trend of females’ ability
• In future, these differences decrease,
    parents and teachers will see more that
    females are capable of performing well in
    mathematics.
•   This will lead to more parental and
    academic support, further enhancing
    females’ ability.
•   In this way, the cycle may be broken ( IT
    HAS BROKEN AS WE CAN SEE NOWADAYS
    MORE AND MORE FEMALES EXCEL GREATER
    THAN MALES.)
The Effects of Mathematics
  Anxiety on Matriculation
   Students as Related to
Motivation and Achievement:
            A review of the Literature by;
    Effandi Zakaria & Norazah Mohd Nordin (2008)
            Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

 Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology
             Education, 2008, 4(1), 27-30
Math Anxiety & Motivation
Math Anxiety & Achievement

Study Findings
Math Anxiety (High), Achievement (Low)
Math Anxiety (High), Motivation (Low)
 The results of this study provide evidence
  that math anxiety has an important effect in
  math education.
 Therefore, teacher should be thinking on
  how to reduce students’ anxieties by finding
  a better way to teach mathematics
Implications
Woodard (2004) suggested techniques:

1. Create an environment in which students
   do not feel threatened and allow them
   to relax
2. Use cooperative grouping
3. Teach at as slow pace. (comprehend
   better)
4. Provide extra tuition session.
Literature Review Conclusion
• Mathematics anxiety exists and potentially
  affecting the associated learning.
• The root can be affective and cognitive, with
    people’s beliefs influencing the way they think
    about math and subsequently affecting their
    learning.
•   Evidence show ability to do mathematics is
    strongly influenced by people’s attitudes rather
    than any cognitive skills.
•   We need to further research how to prevent
    such anxiety.
IMPLICATION
TEACHERS' SIDE OF
    ANXIETY
  (Teaching Anxiety)
Anxiety on Math
• Personality
• Environment
• Intellectual
Personality
Emotion:
  • Before works
  • Family matters
  • Works not done – being assign/taking part in
    activities in particular month (s)
Experiences:
  • Unpleasant math experience
  • Previous students on particular topics
  • Preset in mind (distributed to weak/ talent
    classes)
Environment
• Facilities - damage
• Spontaneous event (announcement)
• Cultural misconception / Gender Misconception
    – issues of male doing better than female
•   Pressure from parents
    •  Too much concerning on improvement
    •  Bothering teacher all the time
Intellectual
Conceptual knowledge
  •  Performs but lack of concept…
Anxious abilities in certain area
  •  Carried heaviest marks
Acceptation of different learning background
  •  Different application
Prevent & reduce
  math anxiety
Assess
         Students’ Attitude
• Teachers assess their students attitudes toward
  math at the beginning of a school year by having
  them complete the following mathitude survey.

  1. When I hear the word math I.......
  2. My favourite thing in math is......
  3. My least favourite thing in math is.......
  4. If I could ask for one thing in math it would be..........
  5. My favourite teacher for math is.....
Change:
      Teaching Approaches
Teachers need to help kids see the important
of math.

 Pupils learn to value and see application for
  learning math inside and outside the classroom.
 Help students realize that it is not something
  from which they can escape, but a tool they need
  to learn how to use.
 It is important to become confident in one’s
  ability to do math.
Change:
        Teaching Approaches
 Teachers must employ best practices for teaching
 mathematics in their classrooms.
 Address different learning style.

a) the use of manipulative (make learning math concrete)
   pictures and symbols to model or represent abstract
    ideas


b) the use of cooperative group work
   provide students a chance to exchange ideas
Change:
         Teaching Approaches
c) the use of calculators, computers, and all technology
    interactive motion game, graphing calculator, note
       and video online…

d) the use of games, jokes and cartoons
    cards playing, Tangrams, experimenting…
Change:
        Teaching Approaches
e) the use of the assessment of learning as a part of
   instruction
   employ alternative and authentic assessment.


f) the role of the teacher of being a facilitator of
    learning
    discussing feelings, attitudes, and appreciation
       for mathematics with students regularly
Change:
         Teaching Approaches
Teach test taking and study skills!
a) Teach note-taking skills

b) Teach test-taking skills

c) Teach relaxation techniques

d) Teach the importance of homework/studying

e) Teach how to read and use the textbook

f) Teach positive “I” messages

g) Teach visualization of success in math
Change:
       Learning Approaches
 Introduce the ten self-help techniques for
 combating math anxiety.

1. Learn stress management and relaxation
   techniques.
2. Combat negative thinking.
3. Visualize yourself succeeding.
4. Do “easiest” problems first.
5. Start preparing early.
Change:
        Learning Approaches
Introduce the ten self-help techniques for
combating math anxiety.

6. Try to understand the “why” of math
   concepts rather than memorizing.
7. Find a support group.
8. Do math every day and study smart.
9. Utilize all your resources.
10. Reward yourself for hard work.
Conclusion
• Math anxiety happens in the classroom due to the
    lack of consideration of different learning styles of
    students.
•   Math must be looked upon in a positive light to
    reduce math anxiety.
•   Teachers must re-examine traditional teaching
    methods which often do not match students’
    learning styles and skills needed in society.
•   As a result once young children see math as fun,
    they will enjoy it, and, the joy of mathematics
    could remain with them throughout the rest of their
    lives.
Paraphrase
        A Chinese proverb
    “Tell me mathematics, and I will forget;
   show me mathematics and I may remember,
involve me...and I will understand mathematics.”
 If I understand mathematics, I will be less likely to
 have math anxiety. And if I become a teacher of
   mathematics, I can thus begin a cycle that will
      produce less math-anxious students for
                generations to come.
THE END

More Related Content

Mathematics Anxiety Presentation

  • 1. SME6044 – Contemporary Issues in Mathematics Education MATHEMATICS ANXIETY Group members : 1. Chung Wai Cheong – M20102001089 2. Taw Mei Yoke – M20111000335 3. Teh Guan Leong – M20112001445 4. Wong Wai Lun – M20112001446 5. Wong Wang Yuen – M20111000734
  • 3. What is Math Anxiety? 1. Webster's New Word Dictionary explains anxiety as worry or uneasiness about what may happen. 2. Feelings of tension, apprehension, or even dread that interferes with the ordinary manipulation of number and the solving of mathematical problems (Ashcraft & Faust, 1994) 3. The panic, helplessness, paralysis and mental disorganization that arises among some people when they are required to solve a mathematical problem (Tobias & Weissbrod, 1980)
  • 4. What is Math Anxiety? 4. Like stage fright, math anxiety can be a disabling condition, causing humiliation, resentment, and even panic. (http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/anxiety/) 5. Math anxiety can cause on to forget and lose one's self confidence (Tobias, S., 1993) 6. Anxiety is something felt, an unpleasant emotional (affective) state that is universally experienced. (Freud, 1936)
  • 5. Some quotes from Students "Some people can do math - not me!" "When I look at a math problem, my mind goes completely blank. I feel stupid, and I can't remember how to do even the simplest things" "In math there's always one right answer, and if you can't find it you've failed. That makes me crazy."
  • 6. Some quotes from Students "Math exams terrify me. My palms get sweaty, I breathe too fast, and often I can't even make my eyes focus on the paper. It's worse if I look around, because I'd see everybody else working, and know that I'm the only one who can't do it" "Sometimes I do problems my own way. Even though I get the right answer my teacher would not give me credit because I didn't do it the way he showed us"
  • 7. MATHS ANXIETY: SYMPTOMS
  • 8. Math Anxiety: Symptoms Psychological Symptoms: • Confusion • Lack of confidence • Panic-stricken worry • Negative thoughts • Sudden memory loss
  • 9. Math Anxiety: Symptoms Physiological Symptoms: • Rapid heart beat • Sweating • Nausea • Stomach disorders • Headaches
  • 10. Why is Understanding Math Anxiety Important?
  • 14. If you have high confidence in math
  • 15. If you have high math anxiety
  • 16. The Math Anxiety Process From Cynthia Arem, Conquering Math Anxiety: A Self-Help Workbook, 1993, p. 20
  • 18. MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTION 1. Aptitude for mathematics is inborn 2. To be good at mathematics you have to be good at calculating 3. Maths requires logic, not creativity 4. In mathematics, what's important is getting the right answer 5. Men are naturally better than women at mathematical thinking
  • 20. Math anxiety has been related to personality type, a negative attitude toward mathematics, mathematics avoidance, mathematics background, instructor behaviors, level of mathematics achievement, lack of confidence, and negative school experiences (Bursal & Paznokas, 2006).
  • 21. Causes / Factors From the research that conducted (Puteh, 1998), it was found that the causes of mathematics anxiety were related to: • teacher personality • public examination • affective domain • feelings, worries, difficulties • parents • peer group • relevance
  • 22. Teacher personality and their teaching style • Bias Aiken (1976) reported • creativity more generally that the attitudes of teachers • individual help themselves towards • force/thread mathematics have and influence on their pupils' • not attentive attitudes and also an • authority/culture influence on the style and methods that they will • blame then adopt in imparting • public humiliation the knowledge and skills • unrealistic of mathematics in their turn. expectation
  • 23. The teacher should control behavior, but not thought (Buxton, 1981). The mathematics teacher needs to be creative in his teaching methods, so students do not lose interest. This idea is supported by a study conducted by Pyne, Bates, and Turner (1995).
  • 24. Many teachers promote the false idea that females cannot perform as well as males in mathematics (Jackson & Leffingwell, 1999). Again, the teacher needs to be aware of his words, sighs, and overall body language (Jackson & Leffingwell,1999).
  • 25. Public examination • exam-oriented Betz (1978) revealed • pressure that the level of mathematics anxiety • timed test reported was related to • future scores on a standardized mathematics • rating achievement test. • filter • panic • pass experience
  • 26. Affective domain Modified version of Mitchell and Collins (1991, p. 30) Attitudes Expectation Anxiety Disability "Maths is "I'll be Flight/ Unable difficult humiliated" avoidance to think for me" Some students encounter shock when transfer from primary to secondary.
  • 27. Feeling, worries, difficulties JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION IN S.E. ASIA Vol. 26, No. 2 Significant differences in feelings were noted with regards to the rank order of the problems they chose to solve.
  • 28. Feeling, worries, difficulties Which problem to solve first? Easiest problem, familiar problem, minimum working, understand problem Which problem to solve last? Multiple steps, more time required, lack of understanding
  • 29. Parental expectation - their aspiration and standards • high pay As stated earlier that a • expectation/ student's self esteem and mathematical standard confidence is directly • practical support related to their parent's perception and • comparison expectation according to • role model Kober (1991)
  • 30. Teachers and parents that are afraid of mathematics pass that on to their students and children (Furner & Duffy, 2002).
  • 31. Peer group influences • lack of support Shapiro's (1962) findings • knowledge indicated that peer attitudes in elementary • effects school may indeed be influential, especially in the cases of girls.
  • 32. Relevance • usage/application in daily life • constant failure • memorized as solution • understanding is critical • use as punishment
  • 33. Mathematics certainly means many things to many people (Marzita binti Puteh, 2002).
  • 36. The Mathematics Anxiety Pattern (Puteh, 2002) Avoidance Negative I’m poor in Fear experiences mathematics , panic, worry, anxiety involving mathematics Unable to perform
  • 37. Contribution to the formation of negative attitudes and mathematics anxiety (Puteh, 2002) • Fear of asking for help • Teachers blaming students for not understanding. • Teacher ridiculing students • Teacher’s strictness and fierceness. • Use of treats and force by teachers • Teachers not showing interest in their students • Teaching style which emphasis the transfer of information and not attention to the learning of the individual.
  • 38. Pressure of examination and its effect on students. Betz (1978)- the level of mathematics anxiety was related to scores . [low math anxiety , high achievement scores, and vice versa]
  • 39. Family/Parental & Peer Group Influences Towards Mathematics Poffeenberger and Norton (1959)- Parents affect on child’s attitude and performance in 3 ways. 1) by parental encouragement, 2) by parent’s own attitudes, 3) by parental expectations of child’s achievement. This two factors have great impact on students performance and math anxiety
  • 40. Family/Parental ,Teacher & Peer Group Studies • Kenschaft (1991) reported that parent’s support or lack of support is an important in students’ attitude and participation in mathematics instruction. • Dossey (1992) considered teachers important role in shaping attitudes towards mathematics. • Harris (1995) concluded that peer affiliations become increasingly more influential on shaping attitudes than parents and teachers.
  • 41. Math Anxiety in Elementary and Secondary School Students A review of the Literature by Allen Wigfield(1988) Judith L.Meece University of Michigan University of North Carolina Journal of Educational Psychology 1988. Vol.80. No.2, 210-215
  • 42. Introduction Studies have documented the negative effects of math anxiety on math performance and achievement. Students Math anxiety may impact on their ability to learn Math Effectively. Liebert and Morris (1967) distinguished two component of test anxiety, WORRY-cognitive components. EMOTIONALLY-affective components
  • 43. Purpose of study to examine age and gender difference in Math Anxiety • Age (High) – Pressure more, Anxiety level (High) • (Elementary school does not emphasize evaluation as much) • Gender: Boys & Girls did not differ in their Math WORRY report. (Indicates they are equally concern about doing well in Math. • Girls more negative affection reactions to Math compare to boys. ( Indicates when Math harder, girls more likely to stop taking math)
  • 44. Suggestion by researchers • Suggest that intervention programs • To alleviate the negative effects of math anxiety must deal with both affective and cognitive aspects of math anxiety. • Should be implemented during the elementary school years • Before children’s anxiety about math becomes strongly established.
  • 45. How Negative Expectancies and Attitudes Undermine Females’ Math Confidence and Performance: A review of the Literature by Jennifer Gutbezahl (1995) University of Massachusetts, Amherst ED 380 279
  • 46. Summary • Societies as a whole believe females are less mathematically capable than males. • This belief is communicated to parents and teachers, who pass it along to students. • Girls come to view their failures in math as evidence that they are indeed inferior and to view their successes as flukes.
  • 47. Cycle of Low Expectancy on female Students by Parents and Teachers Lower Lower Performance Expectations Negative Expectancies Parents & Attitudes Expectations about Math Teachers Expectations
  • 48. Continue • This belief reinforces the belief that females are not capable of doing well in math. • Females stop taking advanced math courses in high school or college, believing them too difficult. • In the end, the expectancies of their parents and teachers are fulfilled and society was further “proof” of females’ inferior math ability
  • 49. Surprisingly about this cycle • Differences between males’ and females’ performance is quite small . • There is no sig. difference between boys and girls match achievement in elementary school, and few difference at any age (Feingold,1988;NAEP,1983; Shipman, Krantz & Silver,1992) • And these differences are getting smaller over time (Hyde & Linn, 1988)
  • 50. Future trend of females’ ability • In future, these differences decrease, parents and teachers will see more that females are capable of performing well in mathematics. • This will lead to more parental and academic support, further enhancing females’ ability. • In this way, the cycle may be broken ( IT HAS BROKEN AS WE CAN SEE NOWADAYS MORE AND MORE FEMALES EXCEL GREATER THAN MALES.)
  • 51. The Effects of Mathematics Anxiety on Matriculation Students as Related to Motivation and Achievement: A review of the Literature by; Effandi Zakaria & Norazah Mohd Nordin (2008) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 2008, 4(1), 27-30
  • 52. Math Anxiety & Motivation Math Anxiety & Achievement Study Findings Math Anxiety (High), Achievement (Low) Math Anxiety (High), Motivation (Low)  The results of this study provide evidence that math anxiety has an important effect in math education.  Therefore, teacher should be thinking on how to reduce students’ anxieties by finding a better way to teach mathematics
  • 53. Implications Woodard (2004) suggested techniques: 1. Create an environment in which students do not feel threatened and allow them to relax 2. Use cooperative grouping 3. Teach at as slow pace. (comprehend better) 4. Provide extra tuition session.
  • 54. Literature Review Conclusion • Mathematics anxiety exists and potentially affecting the associated learning. • The root can be affective and cognitive, with people’s beliefs influencing the way they think about math and subsequently affecting their learning. • Evidence show ability to do mathematics is strongly influenced by people’s attitudes rather than any cognitive skills. • We need to further research how to prevent such anxiety.
  • 55. IMPLICATION TEACHERS' SIDE OF ANXIETY (Teaching Anxiety)
  • 56. Anxiety on Math • Personality • Environment • Intellectual
  • 57. Personality Emotion: • Before works • Family matters • Works not done – being assign/taking part in activities in particular month (s) Experiences: • Unpleasant math experience • Previous students on particular topics • Preset in mind (distributed to weak/ talent classes)
  • 58. Environment • Facilities - damage • Spontaneous event (announcement) • Cultural misconception / Gender Misconception – issues of male doing better than female • Pressure from parents • Too much concerning on improvement • Bothering teacher all the time
  • 59. Intellectual Conceptual knowledge • Performs but lack of concept… Anxious abilities in certain area • Carried heaviest marks Acceptation of different learning background • Different application
  • 60. Prevent & reduce math anxiety
  • 61. Assess Students’ Attitude • Teachers assess their students attitudes toward math at the beginning of a school year by having them complete the following mathitude survey. 1. When I hear the word math I....... 2. My favourite thing in math is...... 3. My least favourite thing in math is....... 4. If I could ask for one thing in math it would be.......... 5. My favourite teacher for math is.....
  • 62. Change: Teaching Approaches Teachers need to help kids see the important of math.  Pupils learn to value and see application for learning math inside and outside the classroom.  Help students realize that it is not something from which they can escape, but a tool they need to learn how to use.  It is important to become confident in one’s ability to do math.
  • 63. Change: Teaching Approaches Teachers must employ best practices for teaching mathematics in their classrooms. Address different learning style. a) the use of manipulative (make learning math concrete)  pictures and symbols to model or represent abstract ideas b) the use of cooperative group work  provide students a chance to exchange ideas
  • 64. Change: Teaching Approaches c) the use of calculators, computers, and all technology  interactive motion game, graphing calculator, note and video online… d) the use of games, jokes and cartoons  cards playing, Tangrams, experimenting…
  • 65. Change: Teaching Approaches e) the use of the assessment of learning as a part of instruction  employ alternative and authentic assessment. f) the role of the teacher of being a facilitator of learning  discussing feelings, attitudes, and appreciation for mathematics with students regularly
  • 66. Change: Teaching Approaches Teach test taking and study skills! a) Teach note-taking skills b) Teach test-taking skills c) Teach relaxation techniques d) Teach the importance of homework/studying e) Teach how to read and use the textbook f) Teach positive “I” messages g) Teach visualization of success in math
  • 67. Change: Learning Approaches Introduce the ten self-help techniques for combating math anxiety. 1. Learn stress management and relaxation techniques. 2. Combat negative thinking. 3. Visualize yourself succeeding. 4. Do “easiest” problems first. 5. Start preparing early.
  • 68. Change: Learning Approaches Introduce the ten self-help techniques for combating math anxiety. 6. Try to understand the “why” of math concepts rather than memorizing. 7. Find a support group. 8. Do math every day and study smart. 9. Utilize all your resources. 10. Reward yourself for hard work.
  • 69. Conclusion • Math anxiety happens in the classroom due to the lack of consideration of different learning styles of students. • Math must be looked upon in a positive light to reduce math anxiety. • Teachers must re-examine traditional teaching methods which often do not match students’ learning styles and skills needed in society. • As a result once young children see math as fun, they will enjoy it, and, the joy of mathematics could remain with them throughout the rest of their lives.
  • 70. Paraphrase A Chinese proverb “Tell me mathematics, and I will forget; show me mathematics and I may remember, involve me...and I will understand mathematics.” If I understand mathematics, I will be less likely to have math anxiety. And if I become a teacher of mathematics, I can thus begin a cycle that will produce less math-anxious students for generations to come.