Torgeir Onstad:

The Significance of TIMSS andTIMSS Advanced(Mathematics Education in Norway, Slovenia and Sweden)

Book about three countries (2013)

• 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 K19• «Knowledge Promotion»• Positive trends relief, optimism• Anxious expectations for TIMSS Advanced

2008 and TIMSS 2011

Norway

• 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

• 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!