Education, Community College

This study investigates the relationships between and among math anxiety level, perceptual learning style (audio, visual, tactile/kinesthetic), age, gender, and math performance. The subjects were 501 community college students taking remedial credit Introductory Algebra and college credit Basic College Algebra. A questionnaire measuring math anxiety level, perceptual learning style, and personal demographics was developed and administered to the participants. Math anxiety level was measured by the Brief Math Anxiety Rating Scale (BMARS), a subscale of Suinn's Math Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS). Perceptual learning style was measured by the Learning Style Inventory-Adapted (LSI-A), an adaptation of the CITE Learning Style Inventory. The results showed that math anxiety level was significantly correlated to one or more learning styles for all groups studied. Math Anxiety level was also significantly correlated to gender but did not have significant correlations with age or math performance. For the female subjects, there were significant positive correlations between math anxiety level and two learning styles: tactile/kinesthetic and audio. For males, there was a significant positive correlation between math anxiety level and audio learning style only. While the math anxiety levels of females were significantly higher than those of males, their course grades were as well. They were also significantly older than the males in the study group and had significantly higher preferences for the visual learning style than the males. Multiple regression analyses were performed with the predictor variables of age, gender, learning style; and the criterion variable math anxiety level. The regression models were statistically significant and predicted up to 15% of the variance in math anxiety level. Multiple regression analyses were performed on subgroups of the original groups. These groups were comprised of the participants who received letter grades from A-F. Those receiving incompletes or withdrawals were not included in this part of the study. The predictor variables for the regressions in these models were: age, gender, math anxiety level, and perceptual learning style. The criterion variable was math performance, measured by the final grade in the course. All but one of the regression models were statistically significant, predicting up to 16% of the variance in math performance. The remedial credit model was not significant. Further research is needed with a more comprehensive learning style instrument and possibly a different measure for evaluating math performance that would also include all the incomplete grades and withdrawals.

Ubiquitous incorporation of computer-based, electronic technologies into American society has created intense pressure upon the composition instructors at Florida's community colleges to develop computer skills themselves and to develop curricula which routinely incorporate these technologies into their teaching responsibilities. This fact makes clear the need to assess instructors' readiness: What computer skills have they acquired and what computer-aided teaching methodologies have they learned which make them capable of and willing to teach composition with the aid of computers? What support services on community college campuses seem to encourage instructors to take on the responsibility to teach computer-aided composition. After its pilot testing, a thirteen question survey was sent to the 473 known instructors of credit-level composition at Florida's twenty-eight community colleges. This study examined the characteristics of the 222 respondents, of whom 61 reported that they do teach computer-aided composition and 161 reported that they do not. One way analyses of variance applied to the survey responses of these groups compared them regarding their institutions' technology support services; regarding their familiarity with, training for, and uses of computer technologies in their personal and professional responsibilities; and regarding their participation in departmental, divisional, and institutional planning activities for technology enhancements. Findings revealed that, compared to those instructors who do not teach computer-aided composition, instructors who do are (1) more likely to be familiar with and use a greater variety of computer technologies for both personal and professional use, (2) more likely to serve on departmental committees which consider technology uses, (3) more likely to have in-office access to desktop computers, to have nearby full-service faculty/student computer labs, and to have greater access to computer hardware overall, and (4) more likely to have attended workshops and taken courses on computer technologies and on instructor methods for use of technologies. In responses to a Likert-like question, composition instructors who do teach with the aid of computer technology also expressed greater than expected professional satisfaction with computer-aided composition as compared to traditional methodology.

Broward Community College (Florida) has experienced high attrition in its Principles of Accounting I. The present study investigates the relationship of grades with divergent instructional/learning styles. Subject literature indicated individual approaches to perceiving, thinking, remembering and problem solving. These traits are possessed by both learners and teachers. However, the interaction of instructional/learning styles remained unexplored at the community college level. Further, accounting education has not provided discussion of the issue. Using the Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) and the Canfield Instructional Style Inventory (CIS), learning and instructional preferences were obtained. This style data was used to determine measures of divergence between instructor's and learner's style along 17 selected factors. The sum of these differences provided a total divergent measure of instructional/learning style (TMD) and were based on key score preference zones representing broad measures of instructional/learning style. Students and instructors in Principles of Accounting I during Term I 1979/80 were selected. Results were summarized and three statistics applied. Z-tests showed significant differences exist on the TMD between campuses of the college. Significant differences were not found between full- and part-time faculty on the same measure. Results required all statistics be performed by campus Multiple correlation analysis by campus indicated low multiple R and R('2) values for the relationship of grades, TMD, and quality points. An alternate correlation analysis was postulated based on the 17 individual factors making up the TMD and indicated a stronger multiple R and R('2). Chi-Square analysis were performed on each of the selected factors. The factors Achievement/Independence and Numeric were found to relate to grades for Campus #1. The analysis for Campus #2 indicated the variables Numeric, Affiliation/Peer, Eminence/Competition and Reading affect the relationship with grades. In conclusion, TMD and quality points in multiple correlation analysis are questionable as predictors of grades. A composite measure of difference (TMD) inhibits the strength of each selected factor and alternate procedures are too general an identification of style preference. Campus groupings lacked the homogeneity required by the distinctive characteristics of teaching and learning.