Facing Facts in U.S. Science and Mathematics Education: Where We Stand, Where We Want to Go

摘要

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) provides data that seems clearly important to science and mathematics education in the U.S. TIMSS gathered exten- sive data on curriculum, textbooks, teachers, and instructional practices in science and mathe- matics education and some of these data are presented and discussed. Eighth grade achievement data show the U.S. to be somewhat above average in science achievement but consistently average or below in mathematics. U.S. official curricula cover comparatively many topics and are relatively unfocused. U.S. science and mathematics textbooks typically take a cautious, inclusive approach keeping traditional content while adding new reform topics.