Advisor

Gall, James E.

Advisor

Williams, Mia K.

Committee Member

Lalonde, Trent L.

Committee Member

Lohr, Linda L.

Department

Educational Technology

Institution

University of Northern Colorado

Type of Resources

Text

Place of Publication

Greeley (Colo.)

Publisher

University of Northern Colorado

Date Created

5-1-2013

Genre

Thesis

Extent

159 pages

Digital Origin

Born digital

Description

The anxiety that final examinations produce was investigated in relation to how students cope with exam-related stress. Participants in this study collaboratively contributed to an asynchronous exam-preparation wiki as part of a pre-service teacher education course. Qualitative data from interviews, open-ended questions, wiki content, and a focus group were gathered to determine instructor and student perceptions about the activity. Quantitative data from the Test Anxiety Inventory (German version translated to English), the COPE Inventory, and instructor grading rubrics were gathered to determine if the wiki activity helped to reduce exam anxiety, and to determine if a correlation existed between wiki contributions and self-reported coping behavior. A t-test revealed no significant difference between posttest and pretest Test Anxiety Inventory scores. Pearson correlations revealed near-zero correlations between reported coping behavior and wiki contributions, as well as Test Anxiety Inventory scores and wiki contributions. Qualitative content, analyzed using a grounded theory methodology, revealed themes related to critical instructor interaction, student collaboration, and wiki content. The data overwhelmingly showed that students did not like or benefit from the collaborative test preparation wiki activity. Trust appeared to influence participant impressions and the quality of their experience while working or waiting in the wiki. The research provides suggestions for improving trust through instructor participation, based on theory generated in the current study. Future studies that implement best practices for instructor participation in collaborative exam-preparation wikis could investigate subtle actions and interactions within computer-supported collaborative learning environments, including motivation for contribution and general group dynamics. In addition, future research may reveal how those factors influence behavior and anxiety levels.

Degree type

PhD

Degree Name

Doctoral

Language

English

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by author.

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