Test Anxiety Reduction Strategies for Educators
Test Anxiety Reduction Strategies for Educators
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Issue Date
2022-12
Authors
Kerluck, Ryan
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Abstract
This capstone is intended to bring attention to how prevalent test anxiety is in our student population today and to make recommendations on how best to help these students. Students are at the mercy of the assessment practices that educators choose to use in their classrooms, and in some cases, educators are causing significant harm to the mental health of children and adolescents by using written testing. Many educators have noticed the levels of anxiety raising in their students but have not changed their assessment practices to meet the design of the new BC Curriculum, which is focused on project-based inquiry. Through my research on anxiety, performance anxiety, and test anxiety, it is evident that written testing needs to be removed from BC High Schools. It is not the most effective means for assessing learning and favours students who can memorize content, a skill that does not encourage a deeper understanding of the concepts being taught. Project-based inquiry allows students to apply concepts learned to meaningful issues to them, allowing students to personalize their learning. While we wait for the removal of written testing from the curriculum, school counsellors can be part of the solution by working with students who are suffering from test anxiety. School districts need to consider providing school counsellors with training in the most effective interventions to help test anxious youth. School counsellors could benefit from training in STEPS Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention, FEAR Model of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Study-Skills Training.
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Keywords
anxiety , performance anxiety , test anxiety , self-esteem , self-concept , perfectionism , fear , worry , stress , nervousness