Fear of Negative Evaluation and Student Anxiety in Community College Active Learning Science Courses

• In Event: The Experiences of Community College Faculty

Abstract

Student anxiety is a growing concern for colleges and universities. As college science instructors transition from traditional lecture to active learning, the education community has focused on how active learning affects student anxiety. While community colleges educate 48% of college students, to our knowledge there are no studies exploring the relationship between anxiety and active learning in community college science courses. In this study, we aimed to build a framework elucidating the relationship between student anxiety and active learning in the context of community college science courses. Through interviews of 29 students enrolled in active learning science courses from nine community colleges, and using grounded theory, we identified factors that increase and decrease student anxiety in active learning.

Author

• Virginia Downing, University of Wisconsin - Madison