High- and Low-Achieving Students and Their Engagement in Mathematics

• In Event: Poster Session 6
  In Poster Session: Learning and Motivation in Social and Cultural Contexts Poster Session 1

Abstract

Engagement in mathematics plays a major role in students’ enjoyment, interest and participation rates in mathematics-related careers. Interviews with 37 high and low achieving Year 7 students from ten high schools explored their perceptions of their engagement and achievement levels in mathematics. Results indicate that highly engaged students were more ‘alike’ in terms of their attitudes towards mathematics, strategies for learning the subject, interest and behavioural engagement in mathematics regardless of differences in their achievement levels. Conversely, high and low achieving students disengaged from maths, were less alike. These findings shed important light on student engagement in mathematics because they disentangle characteristics of engaged or disengaged learners from those attributed to mathematical achievement.

Authors

• Karen Skilling, The University of Sydney

• Janette M. Bobis, The University of Sydney

• Andrew J. Martin, The University of New South Wales

• Judy Anne Anderson, The University of Sydney

• Jenni Way, The University of Sydney