By Chris Cunningham
The Scene staff
Sweaty palms during a test are an obvious sign, but math anxiety can take many forms.
“One way to identify math anxiety is to ask a set of questions,” said math Assistant Professor Michael Lueke. “A typical question might be, ‘Have you made academic plans based on your anxiety?’
For example, you want to be a doctor, but that requires math, so I will be an art major.”
Lueke is one of five Forest Park faculty members who will lead 10 free workshops on Overcoming Math Anxiety.
He blames much of math anxiety on two mistakes by students: Lack of preparation and preparing the wrong way.
“The workshop addresses the second issue,” he said. “The first issue is easy to address: Do the homework.”
General Studies student Suellen Flaks, 58, has experienced math anxiety since she was in elementary school. She had a hard time paying attention in class due to medication.
The effects continued into adulthood.
“When watching teachers do math on the board, it creates anxiety,” Flaks said.
Flaks attended two Overcoming Math Anxiety workshops last year. She said it improved her math performance greatly.
Mainly, it was an opportunity to acknowledge and discuss her problem.
“It gave me confirmation that you aren’t on your own,” Flaks said.
Math Associate Professor Evelyn Corich gave Flaks advice that was particularly helpful.
“She told me, ‘Many students take tests, and they are out of class quickly. The student who sits and takes their time, that student is more likely to pass,’” Flaks said.
It’s no secret that math anxiety can increase at exam time.
“Many students will say, ‘The homework is fine, but during a test, my brain freezes,’” Leuke said.
One problem is that students grow reliant on resources such as tutors and notes and the lack of time restraints while studying.
Students can learn how to improve their performance under pressure.
“You should be able to do it quicker when you get to the test,” Lueke said. “There is nothing wrong with counting on your fingers, but complicated math will be difficult if you still have to do that.”
Sometimes people mistake math anxiety for test-taking anxiety.
“A lot of times, it is a problem with tests, not math,” said math Assistant Professor Seth Daughtry.
The Overcoming Math Anxiety workshops last two hours and cover topics such as recognizing math anxiety, adopting new study strategies and learning different ways to solve word problems.
Some students think math is unnecessary on their career paths, but Lueke points out that math — like history or writing — is an important tool for understanding and functioning in the world.
He likens someone who claims not to be a “math person” to someone who won’t play touch football because they can’t compete in the NFL.
“We don’t expect people to be mathematicians,” Lueke said. “You don’t have to be a football person to play catch, and you don’t have to be a math person to do algebra.”
Overcoming Math Anxiety workshops will be held in Room B-344 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 23; 10 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 24; 8 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 25; 9 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 26; and 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 27.
No registration is required. For more information, contact Lueke at hlueke@stlcc.edu.