Managing Statistics Anxiety: An Investigation of Computer Software and Web 2.0 Technologies to Alleviate Student Anxiety in the Statistics Classroom

• In Event: Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Statistics Education: Insights Into Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a review of literature regarding statistics anxiety and technology tools that help alleviate student anxiety in the statistics college classroom. The researchers found peer reviewed articles from online databases about statistics anxiety and technology integration for statistics education. A qualitative analysis was conducted based on the literature findings. Several themes emerged which include fear and lack of statistical knowledge, computational software tools to help alleviate computational anxiety, and wikis can foster peer interaction and collaboration. The findings indicate that students fear mathematical formulas that lead toward feelings of anxiety. Furthermore, the results reveal that computational software and Wikis can help manage student anxiety in statistics courses.

Authors

• David Des Armier, University of Wyoming

• Courtney McKim, University of Wyoming