TIMSS Advanced 2008Overview

TIMSS Advanced 2008Overview

Professors Ina V.S. Mullis and Michael O. MartinExecutive Directors

University of Oslo, December 9, 2009

International Release

Introduction

• Advanced mathematics

• Physics

TIMSS Advanced 2008Assesses final-year students with special preparation in

• Trends 1995 to 2008

First administered in 1995

Countries Participating

• Armenia

• Italy

• Iran

• Lebanon

• Netherlands

• Norway

• Philippines

• Russian Federation

• Slovenia

• Sweden

• Also participated in 1995

Increasingly select population by final year

• Left school

• Range of courses and choices

• Not all students study all subjects

• Curricular choices available to students

• Students choosing to specialize

• Selectivity of country

Percentage enrolled in advanced courses varies

• Small percentages in advanced courses

• “Best and brightest”

Increasing differentiation

TIMSS AdvancedResults

• Extensive data on contexts for learning

• Achievement in relation to contexts

• Information about students’ programs and experiences

Key Policy Issue – “Yield”

How many can be educated to high level?

• “Mathematics for all”

• Practical considerations

• Strategic planning

Assessed carefully defined populations

• Taking advanced courses in mathematics or physics

• Specialists in pre-university programs

• Programs lasting three to five years

TIMSS Advanced 2008 Frameworks

• Advanced mathematics

– Algebra

– Calculus

– Geometry

• Physics

– Mechanics

– Electricity and magnetism

– Heat and temperature

– Atomic and nuclear physics

Students surviving

the pipeline• Varies across countries

• Remained in school

• Studied mathematics and science

• Studying at high level all through school careers

TIMSS Advanced Coverage Index

Students Taking Advanced Courses

Entire Age Cohort 100

Results for Advanced Mathematics

0.7

1.4

3.5

4.3

5.9

6.5

10.9

12.8

19.7

40.5

TIMSS Advanced 2008 Mathematics Coverage Index

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Philippines

Russian Federation

Netherlands

Armenia

Lebanon

Iran

Norway

Sweden

Italy

Slovenia

Percentage

Years of School

CountryYears of School

Italy 13

Slovenia 12

Norway 12

Sweden 12

Iran 12

Netherlands 12

Lebanon 12

Russian Federation 10/11

Armenia 10

Philippines 10

19.0

18.8

18.8

18.8

18.1

18.0

17.9

17.0

17.7

16.4

Age

Instructional Time for Advanced Mathematics

CountryTotal

Instructional Hours

Program Length (years)

Netherlands 760 3

Lebanon 750 3

Iran 660 3

Philippines 600 4

Italy 500 5

Russian Federation 500 2

Slovenia 420 4

Sweden 375 3

Armenia 336 3

Norway 280 2

√√√√

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Selectivity

Achievement in Advanced Mathematics

Advanced Mathematics Results by Gender

Trends in Achievement in Advanced Mathematics

Results for Physics

TIMSS Advanced 2008Physics Coverage Index

2.6

3.4

3.8

4.3

5.9

6.6

6.8

7.5

11

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Russian Federation

Netherlands

Italy

Armenia

Lebanon

Iran

Norway

Slovenia

Sweden

Percentage

Selectivity

Instructional Time for Physics

CountryTotal

Instructional Hours

Program Length (years)

Netherlands 560 3

Italy 500 5

Lebanon 498 3

Iran 330 3

Armenia 324 3

Slovenia 316 4

Norway 280 2

Sweden 225 3

Russian Federation 204 2

√

√√

√

Achievement in Physics

Physics Results by Gender

Trends in Achievement in Physics

Selected Policy Issues

• Results for mathematics and physics classes

• Calculators used more frequently than computers

Role of Technologyin Education

Calculator Use in Advanced Mathematics Classes

Netherlands 92% Graphing

Norway 92 Graphing

Sweden 91 Graphing

Slovenia 52 Scientific

Philippines 49 Scientific

Lebanon 48 Scientific

Armenia 36 Simple/scientific

Italy 28 Scientific

Russian Federation 22 Scientific/simple/none

Iran 5 Simple/scientific/none

CountryStudents Use

Calculators Almost Every Lesson

Type of Calculators Used

Calculator Use in Physics Classes

CountryStudents Use

Calculators Almost Every Lesson

Norway 92%

Netherlands 81

Slovenia 78

Sweden 76

Lebanon 69

Russian Federation 62

Italy 43

Armenia 33

Iran 13

Graphing

Graphing

Scientific

Graphing

Scientific

Scientific/simple

Scientific

Simple/scientific

Simple/scientific/none

Type of Calculators Used

29

23

75

57

53

78

84

62

67

66

67

68

74

78

80

82

82

83

89

Students NEVER Using Computers in Class

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Slovenia

Netherlands

Philippines

Lebanon

Russian Federation

Iran

Italy

Armenia

Norway

Sweden

Percent of Students

Advanced Mathematics

Physics

Students’ Areas of Continuing Education

CountryAdvanced Mathematics –

Intended Area with Most Students

Physics – Intended Area with

Most Students

Armenia 26% 22%

Iran 82 82

Italy 20 26

Lebanon 66 65

Netherlands 41 40

Norway 32 41

Philippines 23 –

Russian Federation 25 23

Slovenia 34 36

Sweden 22 29

Engineering Business Health Science Social Science

Percent of Students by Teachers’ GenderAdvanced Mathematics Physics

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Russian Fed.

Armenia

Slovenia

Philippines

Italy

Iran

Sweden

Norway

Netherlands

Lebanon

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Armenia

Russian Fed.

Italy

Iran

Slovenia

Lebanon

Norway

Sweden

Netherlands

Male FemaleMale Female

47

42

14

64

60

64

57

46

38

13

14

30

45

46

51

58

65

67

73

Percent of Students by Teachers’ Aged 50 years or Older

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Iran

Philippines

Slovenia

Italy

Armenia

Russian Federation

Sweden

Lebanon

Netherlands

Norway

Percent of Students

Advanced Mathematics

Physics

73

65

69

83

79

86

84

81

75

58

67

73

75

79

80

84

84

87

93

Percent of Students by Teachers’ Plans to Continue Teaching

Advanced Mathematics

Physics

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Slovenia

Sweden

Russian Federation

Philippines

Norway

Lebanon

Iran

Italy

Armenia

Netherlands

Percent of Students

Areas of concern

• Disappointing achievement

• Declines in yield – fewer students and lower achievement

• Lack sufficient people with sufficient skills

Potential teachershortages

• Dwindling of supply of highly educated teachers

• Existing teachers nearing retirement

Compelling necessity• More students into

mathematics and science courses

• More mathematics and science students into teachers

timssandpirls.bc.edu

Thank YouThank You

Professors Ina V.S. Mullis and Michael O. MartinExecutive Directors

University of Oslo, December 9, 2009