An investigation of students’ perceptions of talent in relation to mathematics showed that gender stereotyped perceptions of talent were a determining factor in their planned mathematics courses in senior high school. Furthermore perception of talent affected students’ intended careers which also revealed gender imbalances in participation according to the level of mathematics required, as rated by six senior teacher educators from two universities in Sydney. The Year 10 students in Advanced and Intermediate courses were from coeducational government schools in an upper middle-class metropolitan area of Sydney. Actual performance on a standardised mathematics test was used to measure students’ achievement, and perception of talent and predicted mathematics participation were ascertained through use of a questionnaire. Despite similar performance on the test, boys perceived themselves as more talented than girls, and also planned to participate in the higher levels of mathematics more than girls, both in the Higher School Certificate and their intended career.
Supporting Physics Teachers to Deliver the New High School Certificate Syllabus: What are the Priorities?