NCTM Meeting in San Diego The Third International Mathematics And Science Study (TIMSS) Part of the Solution Provided by Jacqueline E. Babcock Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI jbabcock@pilot.msu.edu

Back to NCTM San Diego: Presentation Summary

The Third International Mathematics And Science Study (TIMSS) Is:

• The largest and most comprehensive international study ever undertaken of educational achievement
  • Involves more than a half-million fourth, eighth and twelfth graders in nearly 50 countries in North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific
  • Focuses on math and science curricula -- as they are intended, as they are actually delivered in classrooms and as they are learned by students

TIMSS Is:

• Conducted under the auspices of the International Association for the Evaluation of Education Achievement, a private organization of worldwide research institutions based in the Netherlands
• An unparalleled source of information for those seeking to understand and improve educational policy, practices and outcomes

TIMSS Structure In The U.S.:

• Sponsored by
  • The National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education
  • The National Science Foundation
• National Research Coordinator is Dr. William Schmidt, based at the U.S. National Research Center at Michigan State University

Objectives Of TIMSS:

• To compare and analyze curricula, teacher practices and student achievement in math and science among participating countries
  • To enable countries to determine whether they are internationally competitive
  • To examine the variety of "best practices" in successful schools
• To establish world-wide benchmarks for setting and evaluating educational goals in math and science

Components Of TIMSS:

• Curriculum analysis of the content of more than 1,600 math and science textbooks and curriculum guides, including
  1. When topics are introduced
  2. How long they remain in the curriculum
  3. When (if ever) they receive special attention
  4. The emphasis a particular topic is given in math or science textbooks
  5. How many other topics are competing for students' attention
  6. What students are expected to be able to do with the math and science they learn
• Surveys
  1. Student surveys -- student attitudes toward math and science, their personal and academic backgrounds, school experiences and career/educational goals
  2. Teacher surveys -- teacher background, education, instructional practices, pedagogical beliefs and views about math and science as disciplines
  3. School administrator surveys -- information on curricula, school climate, staffing levels and availability of resources
  4. Country-level surveys -- information on each educational system's organization and structure
• Achievement tests and performance assessments
  1. Sub-scores in major math and science content areas (e.g., arithmetic, geometry, life science, earth science)
  2. In-depth coverage of specialized science and math topics (e.g., linear equations, proportionality, earth features, light)
  3. Math-science literacy test for 12th graders
  4. Advanced tests for 12th grade students specializing in physics and advanced mathematics
  5. Hands-on performance tasks for 4th and 8th graders
• Special comparative studies of the U.S., Japan and Germany
  1. Videotapes of 8th grade math teachers to analyze instructional practices
  2. Case studies to explore key policy topics
     • Implementation of guidelines for education
     • Professional environment of teachers
     • Treatment of ability differences
     • Role of the school in adolescents' lives

What We Learned:

• International TIMSS reports to be released in 1996
  1. Comparative analysis of curriculum
  2. Comparative analysis of instructional practices
  3. Comparative analysis of textbooks
  4. 8th grade achievement results
• U.S. TIMSS reports to be released in 1996
  1. In-depth U.S. curriculum analysis
  2. 8th grade achievement report
  3. Detailed technical reports on surveys, and videotape and case studies in U.S.
• International TIMSS reports to be released in 1997
  1. 4th and 12th grade achievement results
• U.S. TIMSS reports to be released in 1997
  1. In-depth analysis of 4th and 12th grade data
  2. In-depth examination of the U.S. curriculum by subject matter experts

TIMSS Will Focus On Achievement In Math And Science To Help Us To Understand:

• How national educational policy influences achievement in math and science;
• What role curriculum plays in teaching and learning;
• What makes teachers effective;
• How textbooks influence instruction, expectations and performance;
• Student and societal attitudes toward education in math and science;
• How student choices and attitudes affect their own achievements in math and science; and
• What society and culture contribute to the learning process

As A Result Of TIMSS, We Hope:

• To inform the debate on effective educational practices in schools and textbooks;
• To increase the chances that every American student can learn math and science; and
• To involve parents, educators, students, business, and government in the effort to bring about lasting educational improvements
• To sustain the nation's ability to compete in the global marketplace
• To be a part of the solution

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