Mathematics has been a major subject in an educational system. Back to kindergarten till today, Math has been taught to us. As time goes by and mathematics become more complex to humans, there are thoughts that tickle the minds of people of what purpose mathematics do in our lives. According to Chinn (2012), makes some people feel anxious leading them to avoid situations where they have to use mathematics. But in reality, Mathematics is a compulsory subject for all students at the secondary school level. When students in secondary schools complete their school education, they will not be limited in career choice and advancement. This view is held by curriculum developers, teachers, parents and students alike.
Attitude towards Mathematics plays a crucial role in learning the subject and to student’s decision making when it comes to their career. Attitude can be seen as having a positive or negative effect in a person. Cases like if a student is good in Mathematics he/she is most likely to feel comfortable in the field of Mathematics. On the other hand, student with poor performance in Mathematics have the tendency to underestimate his/her ability to take courses related to Mathematics.
According to Farooq (2008), student’s success in Mathematics depends upon attitude towards the subject. It also influences the participation rate of learners. Students who major in mathematics have variety of opportunities. The Mathematics major prepares students for traditional pursuits such as graduate studies, teaching and work as an actuary. Thus, student with a love of math find a Mathematics major can be combined with a pre-professional curriculum or a major in the business administration or business related course to provide a strong background for graduate study in a field related to Mathematics.
Student performance in Math predict possible courses that a student may choose and take. Furthermore, there are some cases that students are still choosing business related course in which needs to provide background related to mathematics. With this, researchers would like to know if How Student Attitude towards Mathematics Affects Business Career Preferences.
References
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- Edutopia
- Math is Fun
- Khan Academy
- Mathematics in Europe
- MathWorld – Wolfram Research
- Stanford University – Department of Mathematics
- MIT OpenCourseWare: Mathematics
- Attitudes and Beliefs: How Do They Affect Mathematics Learning?
- Beliefs and knowledge: A plea for the reconstruction of mathematics teaching in elementary schools
