Overcoming Maths Anxiety: A New Approach

 

Reducing stress and boosting confidence with jacTUTOR

Math anxiety is an obstacle for many students. There is a feeling of helplessness when students are faced with a difficult maths problem, leading to stress and self-doubt. This lack of confidence makes it hard for teachers to engage students suffering from Maths anxiety.

Teachers look for creative classroom strategies to support their students. From navigating anxiety triggers and managing students’ reactions, to providing students with personalised learning that encourages a positive mindset about maths. But new tech tools are set to support teachers in alleviating the Maths anxiety in their classrooms with the use of GenAI technology.

The recently launched jacTUTOR, a personal tutor feature in Jacaranda’s online learning platform, learnON, has potential to help teachers create a non-intimidating environment for students suffering from Maths anxiety. How? JacTutor is a supportive interactive tool that makes sure students can get the help they need, right when they need it. Read on, as we explore six ways jacTUTOR will help reduce stress and boost confidence.

What is Maths Anxiety?

This roadblock is well researched: Maths anxiety is the negative emotional reaction to the thought of completing a Maths task, that can immediately reduce a student’s capacity to perform even the simplest of tasks.

Students with Maths anxiety feel a combination of tension, apprehension, stress and even fear. While Maths is considered a very logical subject, students are experiencing extreme emotional responses – sometimes so strong that students will avoid Maths altogether, impacting their school progress, and even their post-school course choices.

Strategies are used to build supportive learning environments and encourage positive attitudes towards Maths. However, students and teachers still struggle to overcome it.

Six ways to alleviate Maths anxiety with jacTUTOR

To help understand how this innovative technology can help with Maths anxiety, we asked our Maths Publishers, who are also seasoned teachers, exactly how jacTUTOR could assist.

1. Personalised learning aligned with the curriculum

Students at different learning stages may experience Maths anxiety when they are working on a task in class, especially if they find the task harder than their peers and begin to fall behind. Personalised learning can reduce a student’s anxiety. jacTUTOR helps by breaking down the problem into bite-sized instructions at the level that suits the student, directly from the curriculum they are studying.

Maths Publisher and former teacher, Melissa Malige adds, “The Jacaranda team makes sure the guidance jacTUTOR provides is at the right level of knowledge expected for that student. It’d be confusing if students tried to find answers using Open AI – only leading to further panic. jacTUTOR at their fingertips means they’ll access the right help at the right time.”

2. Immediate feedback

The fear of making mistakes can be greatly reduced when students can get instant feedback while working through a maths task. Students can fix their errors along the way and arrive at the correct answer. jacTUTOR’s feedback guides students through the tasks, helpings students find and correct their mistakes. This fosters confidence and momentum by getting them back on track more quickly.

Maths Publisher and former teacher, Luke Withers suggests, “It’s also extremely helpful for students who don’t know where to start. As soon as they engage with jacTUTOR they gain that very first step towards momentum. Sometimes the simple act of ‘starting’ is one of the biggest pain-points in Maths anxiety.”

3. Interactive tool

Interacting with a-chat feature can make learning more enjoyable and less daunting. Using GenAI technology, we can create active engagement with a student. jacTUTOR’s comforting koala icon is just a click away for students, calming those anxious feelings.

Luke Withers adds, “For existing MathsQuest users, this is an exciting feature to look forward to: jacTUTOR pops up as an additional panel in learnOn that students can easily access. They’ll get extra support to understand the information they may not be grasping in the Reading Panel.”

4. 24/7 Access to Assistance

Reducing the pressures of the traditional classroom also helps students cope with their Maths anxiety. jacTUTOR can be accessed in the learnOn platform anytime and anywhere, which lets students practice their Maths when they are ready. This tutor-like support outside the classroom truly levels the playing field for students who are struggling.

Melissa Malige offers a suggestion to teachers, “ jacTUTOR could be a tool that teachers can point students to if they can sense that their students are not yet comfortable asking a direct question. It’s an added layer of assistance.”

5. Reduced fear of judgement

Some students experience high anxiety due to fear of being judged by other students or their teacher. AI tools like jacTUTOR do not judge! In fact, it facilitates a non-judgmental environment where students can practice without the fear of criticism. This fear can be a major hurdle for students with anxiety.

Luke reminds us, “Maths anxiety isn’t just experienced by students struggling at Maths. Highly capable students also get stressed about being put on the spot in front of the class or feel judged by peers for asking their teacher a question. jacTUTOR is a safe space for all students to practice without criticism and validate their understanding.”

6. Promotes a growth mindset

One of the most positive strategies for combatting Maths anxiety is building a growth mindset. We all want students to believe in their ability to improve through effort and by learning from mistakes. jacTUTOR encourages this mindset – the instant feedback and adaptive learning experience helps reduce the fear of failure and the anxiety that often follows.

Melissa adds, “There’s a point in the curriculum when Maths changes from single-step equations to multi-step problem-solving. This is where students can get stuck in a fixed mindset, rather than growing with the challenges and learning from their errors. jacTUTOR helps build a growth mindset when students need steering towards the next step to solve a problem.”

Helping teachers to support their students.

By leveraging technology, teachers can create a non-intimidating and inclusive environment where students with Maths anxiety can feel supported to learn in new and alternative ways.

Breaking through Maths anxiety is a very personal journey, but it’s wonderful to know that jacTUTOR will soon be a tool in teachers’ toolkits to provide interactive, supportive learning assistance in the MathsQuest learnOn platform.