E.D. Britton – författare

This book, based on detailed studies of eight innovations in mathematics and science education, has many insights to offer on current school reform. Since each innovation studied has taken its own unique approach, the set as a whole spans the spectrum from curriculum development to systemic reform, from c- centrating on particular school populations to addressing all of K-12 education. Yet these reform projects share a common context, a world view on what m- ters in science and mathematics for students of the 1990s and beyond, conv- tions about what constitutes effective instruction, and some notions about how school change can be brought about. These commonalities are drawn out in the book and illustrated with examples from the individual case studies that are reportedin full in BoldVentures, Volumes 2 and 3. The eight innovations—all of them projects that are well-known, at least by name, to U. S. audiences—are briefly described in chapter 1. Each was the s- ject of an in-depth, three-year case study. The research teams analyzed many documents, attended numerous project meetings, visited multiple sites, condu- ed dozens of individual interviews. The team leaders, having spent much time with mathematics or science education over long careers, looked at these reform projects through several lenses; the teams sifted through the mountains of data they had collected in order to tell the story of each project in rich detail.

PREFACE The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and the g- ernments of the participating countries, is acomparative study of education in mathematics and the sciences conducted in approximately 50 educational systems on six continents. The goal of TIMSS is to measure student achievement in mathematics and science in participating countries and to assess some of the curricular and classroom factors that are related to student learning in these subjects. The study is intended to provide educators and policy makers with an unpar- leled and multidimensional perspective on mathematics and science curricula; their implem- tation; the nature of student performance in mathematics and science; and the social, econ- ic, and educational context in which these occur. TIMSS focuses on student learning and achievement in mathematics and science at three different age levels, or populations. • Population 1 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 9-year-old students; • Population 2 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 13-year-old students; and • Population 3 is defined as all students in their final year of secondary education, incl- ing students in vocational education programs. In addition, Population 3 has two “specialist” subpopulations: students taking advanced courses in mathematics (mathematics specialists), and students taking advanced courses in physics (physics specialists).

This volume illuminates patterns among eight prominent US innovations in science and mathematics education: California's reform of science education, ChemCom, Contemporary Precalculus, Kids Network, Project 2061, NCTM Standards, Urban Mathematics Collaboratives, and Voyage of the Mimi. Reformers devised new strategies to effect large-scale change. The advocated conceptions of science and mathematics emphasize integration across subjects and applications of concepts. Teachers played strong roles in the development of innovations and engaged their students to learn in new ways. The burdens of change created struggles between making changes significant and attenuating them to traditional practice. Innovators often underplayed assessment of student achievement, evaluation of the reforms, and issues of equity and inclusion.

This book presents comprehensive results from case studies of five innovations in science education that have much to offer toward understanding current reforms in this field. Each chapter tells the story of a case in rich detail, with extensive documentation, and in the voices of many of the participants-the innovators, the teachers, the students. Similarly, Volume 3 of Bold Ventures pre­ sents the results from case studies of five innovations in mathematics education. Volume 1 provides a cross-case analysis of all eight innovations. Many U.S. readers certainly will be very familiar with the name of at least one if not all of the science innovations discussed in this volume-for example, Project 206l-and probably with their general substance. Much of the education community's familiarity with these arises from the projects' own dissemination efforts. The research reported in this volume, however, is one of the few detailed studies of these innovations undertaken by researchers outside the projects them­ selves. Each of the five studies was a large-scale effort involving teams of researchers over three years. These teams analyzed many documents, attended numerous critical project meetings, visited multiple sites, conducted dozens of individual interviews. The team leaders (Atkin, Huberman, Rowe), having spent much time with science education over long careers, looked at these innovations through many lenses. It was a daunting task for each team to sift through the mountains of detail in order to bring the most compelling themes to the surface.

Which goals and standards guide science education across the world? This first report of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) explores this question by examining data collected in the TIMSS Curriculum Analysis. This study includes an exhaustive, page-by-page inventory of science content and other pedagogical characteristics collected from hundreds of textbooks and curriculum guides from almost 50 countries. These data document many important features of these countries' mathematics education curricula. It examines important features of curriculum policy across the TIMSS countries, especially the role of textbooks and curriculum guides. It also portrays similarities and differences in science curricula in the succession of objectives across grades. Additionally, it details characteristics of the science curriculum as embodied in textbooks and curriculum guides intended for select grades. Th book should be of interest to anyone concerned with science education standards, curriculum policy, cross-national educational comparisons, and science pedagogy.

Which goals and standards guide science education across the world? This first report of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) explores this question by examining the data collected in the TIMSS Curriculum Analysis. The study includes a page-by-page inventory of science content and other pedagogical characteristics collected from textbooks and curriculum guides from almost 50 countries. This data documents many important features of these countries' mathematics education curricula. The book examines important features of curriculum policy across the TIMSS countries, especially the role of textbooks and curriculum guides. It also portrays similarities and differences in science curricula in the succession of objectives across grades. Additionally, it details characteristics of the science curriculum as embodied in textbooks and curriculum guides intended for select grades.

Which goals and standards guide science education across the world? This first report of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) explores this question by examining data collected in the TIMSS Curriculum Analysis. This study includes an exhaustive, page-by-page inventory of science content and other pedagogical characteristics collected from hundreds of textbooks and curriculum guides from almost 50 countries. These data document many important features of these countries' mathematics education curricula. It examines important features of curriculum policy across the TIMSS countries, especially the role of textbooks and curriculum guides. It also portrays similarities and differences in science curricula in the succession of objectives across grades. Additionally, it details characteristics of the science curriculum as embodied in textbooks and curriculum guides intended for select grades. Th book should be of interest to anyone concerned with science education standards, curriculum policy, cross-national educational comparisons, and science pedagogy.

Which goals and standards guide science education across the world? This first report of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) explores this question by examining data collected in the TIMSS Curriculum Analysis. This study includes an exhaustive, page-by-page inventory of science content and other pedagogical characteristics collected from hundreds of textbooks and curriculum guides from almost 50 countries. These data document many important features of these countries' mathematics education curricula. It examines important features of curriculum policy across the TIMSS countries, especially the role of textbooks and curriculum guides. It also portrays similarities and differences in science curricula in the succession of objectives across grades. Additionally, it details characteristics of the science curriculum as embodied in textbooks and curriculum guides intended for select grades. Th book should be of interest to anyone concerned with science education standards, curriculum policy, cross-national educational comparisons, and science pedagogy.

This book provides a detailed examination of how systems located within five countries shape the early career learning of beginning teachers. It describes, discusses and analyzes comprehensive teacher induction found within France, Japan, New Zealand, Shanghai and Switzerland. We refer to the phenomena we observed as induction ‘systems’ because they are am- tious, substantial and established: all beginning teachers in these various locales are served; there are no unfunded mandates; these systems have been in place for 10–25 years. Nevertheless, they are still evolving, und- going review and change – they are dynamic systems. While sharing such similarities, these systems also present striking contrasts in their purposes, policies, program design and the specific activities that constitute them. These induction systems operate within countries having both centr- ized and decentralized education systems, and within large jurisdictions as well as smaller ones. Although we primarily looked at beginning mathe- tics and science teachers of the lower secondary grades, many aspects are relevant to novice teachers of all school subjects at these grade levels, and some structures and insights are germane to the induction of elementary teachers as well.

This book presents comprehensive results from case studies of three innovations in mathematics education that have much to offer toward understanding current reforms in this field. Each chapter tells the story of a case in rich detail, with extensi ve documentation, and in the voices of many of the participants-the innovators, the teachers, the students. Similarly, Volume 2 of Bold Ventures pre­ sents the results from case studies of five innovations in science education. Volume 1 provides a cross-case analysis of all eight innovations. Many U.S. readers certainly will be very familiar with the name of at least if not all of the mathematics innovations discussed in this volume-for one example, the NCTM Standards-and probably with their general substance. Much of the education community''s familiarity with these" arises from the pro­ jects'' own dissemination efforts. The research reported in this volume, however, is one of the few detailed studies of these innovations undertaken by researchers outside the projects themselves.

Examining the Examinations looks at the required advanced science and mathematics examinations taken by university-bound students in seven countries. This research focuses on topics covered, types of questions used, and performance expected from students. The book concentrates on comparisons of the examinations, illustrating their similarities and differences with selected questions taken from the actual examinations. The international comparisons presented offer a window on educational `laboratories'' in seven countries.

This book provides a detailed examination of how systems located within five countries shape the early career learning of beginning teachers. It describes, discusses and analyzes comprehensive teacher induction found within France, Japan, New Zealand, Shanghai and Switzerland. We refer to the phenomena we observed as induction ‘systems’ because they are am- tious, substantial and established: all beginning teachers in these various locales are served; there are no unfunded mandates; these systems have been in place for 10–25 years. Nevertheless, they are still evolving, und- going review and change – they are dynamic systems. While sharing such similarities, these systems also present striking contrasts in their purposes, policies, program design and the specific activities that constitute them. These induction systems operate within countries having both centr- ized and decentralized education systems, and within large jurisdictions as well as smaller ones. Although we primarily looked at beginning mathe- tics and science teachers of the lower secondary grades, many aspects are relevant to novice teachers of all school subjects at these grade levels, and some structures and insights are germane to the induction of elementary teachers as well.

This book presents comprehensive results from case studies of five innovations in science education that have much to offer toward understanding current reforms in this field. Each chapter tells the story of a case in rich detail, with extensive documentation, and in the voices of many of the participants-the innovators, the teachers, the students. Similarly, Volume 3 of Bold Ventures pre­ sents the results from case studies of five innovations in mathematics education. Volume 1 provides a cross-case analysis of all eight innovations. Many U.S. readers certainly will be very familiar with the name of at least one if not all of the science innovations discussed in this volume-for example, Project 206l-and probably with their general substance. Much of the education community's familiarity with these arises from the projects' own dissemination efforts. The research reported in this volume, however, is one of the few detailed studies of these innovations undertaken by researchers outside the projects them­ selves. Each of the five studies was a large-scale effort involving teams of researchers over three years. These teams analyzed many documents, attended numerous critical project meetings, visited multiple sites, conducted dozens of individual interviews. The team leaders (Atkin, Huberman, Rowe), having spent much time with science education over long careers, looked at these innovations through many lenses. It was a daunting task for each team to sift through the mountains of detail in order to bring the most compelling themes to the surface.

This book presents comprehensive results from case studies of three innovations in mathematics education that have much to offer toward understanding current reforms in this field. Each chapter tells the story of a case in rich detail, with extensi ve documentation, and in the voices of many of the participants-the innovators, the teachers, the students. Similarly, Volume 2 of Bold Ventures pre­ sents the results from case studies of five innovations in science education. Volume 1 provides a cross-case analysis of all eight innovations. Many U.S. readers certainly will be very familiar with the name of at least if not all of the mathematics innovations discussed in this volume-for one example, the NCTM Standards-and probably with their general substance. Much of the education community's familiarity with these" arises from the pro­ jects' own dissemination efforts. The research reported in this volume, however, is one of the few detailed studies of these innovations undertaken by researchers outside the projects themselves.

Examining the Examinations looks at the required advanced science and mathematics examinations taken by university-bound students in seven countries. This research focuses on topics covered, types of questions used, and performance expected from students. The book concentrates on comparisons of the examinations, illustrating their similarities and differences with selected questions taken from the actual examinations. The international comparisons presented offer a window on educational `laboratories' in seven countries.