Studying environmental factors to affect student performance in math

  

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A new study by a team of researchers from University of Massachusetts at Amherst is testing a math software program, called Wayang Outpost, which aims to take cues from students' emotions to determine where they need help in the problem-solving process. Studies have found that girls especially lack confidence in their math ability and report feeling "more frustrated and anxious than boys" when faced with math problems, according to Ivon Arroyo, a research scientist at UMass. The software program would offer hints and encouragement in response to cues from students' facial expressions as well as movement in their chair and grip on their mouse in order to boost confidence and thus improve performance.

Furthermore, researchers want to test whether environmental factors can have an effect on student performance in math. Some are investigating "stereotype threat", in which people submit to a stereotype and suffer a decrease in performance as a result. Others want to determine how the physical environment might affect a student's sense of "fitting in" and their subsequent interest in the subject.

All of the research seeks to look at the problems students encounter in their heads as they attempt to tackle math. If educators can identify some of these issues and eliminate the cognitive and emotional road blocks that prevent students from recognizing their full ability, overall student performance in math should improve.

How does emotion factor into your students' achievement in math and other subjects? What can schools and teachers do to build a more encouraging environment for their students?

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