Re: [Phys-L] Timed Tests and the Development of Math Anxiety

[Bill Nettles <bnettles@uu.edu>]

Are CPA exams timed? What about LSAT?

I know that many tests are moving to computer based questioning.  That's something that I (personally) find difficult.  I am more confident with a written question, and find myself more anxious with a question on a screen.  I did the recent "Jeopardy!" test which was on-line.  A terrible experience in which I found myself knowing the answer with 5 seconds left and unable to type it fast enough, then being put-out with myself too late to recover for the next question.

I read better from hardcopy. (But I love my Kindle ... is that a paradox?)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org [mailto:phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-
> l.org] On Behalf Of John Clement
> Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 1:45 PM
> To: Phys-L@Phys-L.org
> Subject: Re: [Phys-L] Timed Tests and the Development of Math Anxiety
>
> It just hit me that this same type of anxiety is being promoted in other
> subjects by the frequent high stakes testing.  As the article pointed out that
> the anxiety tends to hit students who have large working memories and are
> more capable.  So the excessive high stakes testing may be turning students
> off to the tested subjects.
>
> Of course business courses are not subject to this type of testing, so maybe
> this makes a business degree more attractive, and math and science less so.
>
> Hmmm,
> John M. Clement
> Houston, TX
>
> > This article refers to some very firm research which shows that timed
> > testing is one of the reasons why students have difficulty with and
> > hate math.  But notice that repeated extremely stressful situations
> > have bad effects.  Small amounts of stress may be beneficial, but I do
> > not know where the threshold lies.  Of course this relates to corporal
> > punishment which is also a stressful situation which sends the wrong
> > message.
> > But again, some
> > state standards imply that timed testing is needed.  They don't bother
> > to look at research.
> >
> > I think that the conventional method of teaching physics also produces
> > fairly high stress levels because most students find the subject to be
> > incomprehensible.  Then of course there is the problem of tests with a
> > time limit which may be too short for some students.  Other research
> > has shown that students who are LD benefit greatly from extended time,
> > while "normal"
> > students do not.  So giving anyone extended time is a good practice.
> >
> > John M. Clement
> > Houston, TX
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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