{"id":7104,"date":"2023-06-30T14:03:56","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T04:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mscw\/?post_type=article&p=7104"},"modified":"2023-06-30T14:03:56","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T04:03:56","slug":"mscws-vision-for-mathematics","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/mscw\/article\/mscws-vision-for-mathematics\/","title":{"rendered":"MSCW\u2019s Vision for Mathematics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Current research into girls\u2019 education indicates that the issues of mathematics avoidance and mathematics anxiety (referring to the fear, worry, or nervousness that students experience when confronted with mathematical problems or situations) disproportionately affect girls. This unease can have significant implications after school for girls’ participation and aspirations in courses and careers within mathematics. It also significantly impacts their time at school through the subject selection process, namely in enrolments and retention of students in courses in Years 11 and 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>a recent report<\/span><\/a> by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), girls tend to experience higher levels of maths anxiety compared to boys, which undoubtedly impacts their achievement in mathematics negatively. This trend is likely to be caused by societal stereotypes and biases that perpetuate a belief that boys have more natural ability in the field of mathematics than girls, which in turn may create self-doubt and undermine girls’ confidence in their mathematical abilities. Evidence suggests that this poses a threat to young women\u2019s development of aspirations for further education or careers in mathematics, and it is particularly influenced by the presence and prevalence (or lack thereof) of female role models in these fields.<\/span><\/p>\n

Girls must be empowered to take risks in and explore the field of mathematics. The ubiquity of mathematics anxiety in girls can be managed and reduced by: promoting a growth mindset about their abilities; increasing opportunities for real-world applications of numeracy and mathematical concepts; nurturing positive conversations and using positive language around mathematics; and providing opportunities for mentorship and new role models.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a growth mindset, students can be aware that intelligence and skills can be consciously and meaningfully developed through effort and practice. This mindset fosters resilience, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace challenges, thus enabling students to overcome mathematics anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

MSCW\u2019s Aspirations for Girls in Mathematics:<\/b><\/h5>\n