To What Extent Are Students Fulfilling Their Values and Thriving in Mathematics Education?—The Case for Victoria, Australia

Mathematical wellbeing (MWB) is the experience of positive feelings and functioning linked to the fulfillment of seven ultimate values (accomplishment, cognitions, engagement, meaning, perseverance, positive emotions, and relationships) in the mathematics classroom. The study in this chapter psychometrically tests and then measures Australian Year 8 students’ (n = 488) valuing, experiences, and fulfillment of these seven ultimate values. Findings demonstrate that Year 8 students value relationships as the most important and engagement the least important ultimate values; and that they experience the ultimate values cognitions the most and positive emotions the least in the mathematics classroom. We then examine students’ success in fulfilling their own values, finding that students are the most successful in fulfilling their valuing of perseverance and the least successful in fulfilling their valuing of positive emotions. Whilst female students report lower overall value fulfillment than males, females also experience lower MWB than males. Our psychometrically valid and reliable survey can be used to assess and track students MWB, whilst providing target areas for teachers to help improve students’ experiences and engagement in the mathematics classroom.