Transcript Torgeir Onstad:

Torgeir Onstad:
The Significance of TIMSS and
TIMSS Advanced
(Mathematics Education in Norway, Slovenia and Sweden)
Book about three countries (2013)
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Many similarities
Wide participation in TIMSS and TIMSS Adv.
Different results and trends
Different analyses
Different policy issues
Similar benefits from participation
(Concentration on mathematics, but much the same could be said
about science)
Norway
• Negative trends  political shock
• Broad political consensus on educational
reform  new curriculum K19
• «Knowledge Promotion»
• Positive trends  relief, optimism
• Anxious expectations for TIMSS Advanced
2008 and TIMSS 2011
Norway
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Positive trends confirmed in grades 4 and 8
«Progress, but still far to go»
Negative trends in TIMSS Advanced
Will TIMSS continue and TIMSS Advanced
change in 2015?
Other analyses
• Content domains
• Benchmark levels
• (Background variables: gender, homework,
teaching methods, OTL, calculator use, …)
Policy principle
• Each student has a right to receive education
in forms which suit his/her knowledge, skills,
interests and future aspirations
• A strong principle of equity and differentiation
• TIMSS shows that Norway has not been very
successful with the implementation of this
principle  neither for the weak nor for the
talented students
Formal (abstract, pure) mathematics
Serious problems in Norway:
• Grade 4: Number
• Grade 8: Algebra
• Advanced: Algebra, calculus
• Science: Physics
• Physics: Mathematical problems
• TEDS-M: Algebra, logical reasoning
«Everyday mathematics» is not enough!
Trends in three countries
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Norway, Slovenia, Sweden
Grade 4
Grade 8
Advanced mathematics
(Much the same in science)
Sweden
• Decentralised educational system
• Validity of test items
• Test motivation
Slovenia
• TIMSS as an external evaluation of
education and school reforms
• Teachers’ involvement
• Exceptionally big population in Advanced
mathematics
Short summary
• TIMSS and TIMSS Advanced offer a broad
range of possibilities to measure important
aspects of education
• (But not all aspects!)
• Taking part at all levels gives a holistic view
of the situation
• Next opportunity is 2015!!
THANK YOU!