Board 24: The Effects of Mobile Circuits Tutor on Students' Problem-solving Self-efficacy and Anxiety

Abstract

This research study investigated the effects of an assistive mobile learning environment (MLE) on students' self-efficacy and anxiety of problem-solving. Eighty-three college students were randomly assigned into one of three groups and participated the study for an entire semester. The control group did not have access to the app. Participants were split into two treatment groups based on one of the two versions of the MLE tutor (CircuitITS or Circuit Test Taker). Scores from three examinations were recorded from all students throughout the semester. The combined experimental group were asked to complete scales measuring self-efficacy and anxiety at three time points that coincided with midterm examinations. Multilevel longitudinal modeling (MLM) was used to assess the effects of the assistive MLEs on problem-solving self-efficacy and anxiety. MLM was also used to assess effects of problem-solving self-efficacy (NTSEI) scores and problem-solving anxiety (PSA) scores on student examination scores. Results showed a significant negative effect of CircuitITS on NTSEI scores but a positive significant effect of NTSEI scores on exam scores for both tutors. This research study provides results that are counterintuitive to the proposed outcome suggesting that CircuitITS produced a reduction in problem-solving self-efficacy among its users. Although students who utilized CircuitITS experienced a decreased perceived ability to problem solve, both tutors showed significant increases in examination scores.