TIMSS VIDEO STUDY OF 8 th GRADE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING

1. TIMSS VIDEO STUDY OF 8th GRADE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING Please pick up two handouts!

2. Research Questions • What do mathematics teaching and science teaching look like in different countries? • What can we learn from looking at mathematics and science teaching practice in higher-achieving countries?

3. Unique Video Survey Approach • Representative random sampling of 100 8th-grade science lessons from each country in 1999 • 7 countries for math, 5 countries for science

4. Presentation Overview • TIMSS Video Study of Mathematics Teaching • Key results • Implications for math teaching in the U.S. • Video analysis • TIMSS Video Study of Science Teaching • Key results • Implications for science teaching in the U.S. • Video analysis

5. TIMSS VIDEO STUDY OF 8th GRADE MATHEMATICS TEACHING ETSU Math and Science Education Conference June 1, 2007

6. Participating Countries • Australia • Czech Republic • Hong Kong • Japan • Netherlands • Switzerland • United States

7. TIMSS Math: Central Research Questions • Do other high-achieving countries teach as Japan does? • Do higher achieving countries differ from one another? • Do higher achieving countries share a set of similar lesson features?

8. TIMSS Math: Central Research Questions • Do other high-achieving countries teach as Japan does?

9. Do Other Countries Resemble Japan? Time on Independent Problems

10. Do Other Countries Resemble Japan? Problems that Included Proofs

11. Question 2: Do higher achieving countries differ from one another? • There were important differences among the six higher-achieving countries, many on dimensions of mathematics teaching often debated in the U.S.

12. Features that Vary Among High Achievers: Real-Life Connection

13. Features that Vary Among High Achievers: Calculators and Computers

14. Features that Vary Among High Achievers: Problems Presented • Stating concepts: defining terms, naming terms, stating formulas • Using Procedures: applying standard procedures • Making Connections: constructing relationships among ideas, facts, or procedures

15. 12 7 Example: Using Procedures • Find the perimeter of the rhombus

16. Examples: Making Connections • Solve these two mathematical equations and describe what is different about their solutions 2x + 4 = x + 6 2x + 10 = 2( x + 5 ) • Find a pattern in how equivalent ratios are created: 200, 1:3 66, 3:8 210, 2:5

17. Features that Vary Among High Achievers: Problems Presented

18. So we know that… • Other higher-achieving countries do not look like Japan • Higher achieving countries also vary amongst themselves on many features. Now… • Question 3: What features do most higher-achieving countries have in common?

19. Again: Problems Presented

20. How Making Connections Problems are Implemented in the Classroom

21. What can we learn from this study? Result 1: Japan is unique in focusing on just a few problems per lesson and in requiring proofs. Result 2: There are a variety of important differences across the high-achieving countries – there is no one best way to teach mathematics. Implication: U.S. teachers do not have to copy Japanese teachers to be successful.

22. What can we learn from this study? Result 3: The higher-achieving countries more typically implemented making connections problems as making connections in striking contrast with the U.S. Implication: Require students to do the cognitive work in making connections problems. Break the pattern of simplifying these problems to enable students to get the answer without doing the thinking.

23. Video Clips: Stating concepts? Using procedures? Making connections? How are the problems presented? How are the problems implemented in these examples?  U.S. lesson  Czech lesson

26. Math lesson features consistently linked to improved student learning: 1. Students struggle with important mathematics 2. Teachers and students treat mathematical connections in an explicit and public way (e.g., explicit attention to conceptual development of the mathematics). (Hiebert & Grouws, 2007)

27. TIMSS VIDEO STUDY OF 8th GRADE SCIENCE TEACHING ETSU Math and Science Education Conference June 1, 2007

28. Research Questions • What does science teaching teaching look like in different countries? • What can we learn from looking at science teaching practice in higher-achieving countries?

29. Participating countries • Australia • Czech Republic • Japan • Netherlands • United States

30. Result #1 Each of the higher-achieving countries had a distinct core pattern of science teaching, while the U.S. lessons were characterized by variety.

31. The Czech science teaching pattern: Talking to learn challenging content

32. Demonstrating knowledge publicly

33. The Australian and Japanese pattern: Using practical activities and evidence to develop ideas

34. Exploring a few ideas in depth

35. Engaging students in inquiry

36. The Dutch pattern of science teaching: Learning science content independently

37. Using the textbook

38. The U.S. lacks a pattern of science teaching: Doing a variety of activities

39. Variety of activities

40. Motivating activities

41. Result #2 • Although each higher-achieving country had its own approach, they all had strategies for engaging students with core science concepts and ideas. • In U.S. lessons, content played a less central role, and sometimes no role at all. Instead, lessons engaged students in carrying out a variety of activities

42. Science content in Czech lessons: Challenging, theoretical science content

43. Challenging science content

44. Challenging science content • Use of science terms • Number of science ideas in a lesson

45. Science content in Dutch lessons: High expectations for students’ independent learning of science content

46. Working independently: homework

47. Working independently: self-direction

48. Science content in Australian and Japanese lessons: Connecting activities and evidence to build a strong content storyline

49. Making connections between ideas and evidence

50. Building a content storyline