Mathematics in middle schools in Western European countries

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement has conducted a number of cross-national studies in which Western European countries participated. Results from the Second International Mathematics Study regarding the content and outcomes of this study in some Western European countries, Japan and the U.S.A. are presented and compared. The results show that comprehensive systems do not differ systematically from non-comprehensive systems with respect to achievement measures of students. However, measures of the implemented curriculum show differences which are consistent with system characteristics. Consequences for the comparative methodology are discussed

Generalizibility of instructional and school effectiveness indicators across nations

In a secondary analysis of the data base of the IEA second mathematics study, the association of school and instructional characteristics with mathematics achievement within and across 17 countries at the school and student level was investigated. The results indicate consistent positive associations of the factors ‘high expectations of pupils' progress’ and ‘opportunity to learn’ with achievement. Other factors, known from the literature on school and instructional effectiveness, showed more moderate and less consistent effects. The results of this study further indicate that, in each country, considerably more variance in pupils' mathematics achievement lies between classes than between schools when school and class are treated as independent variance components. It was established that specific variables defined at the class level explain more variance than specific variables defined at the school leve

School and teacher factors associated with frequency of ICT use by mathematics teachers: country comparisons

This paper explores school and teacher factors that are associated with the frequency of use of ICT by mathematics teachers. The SITES 2006 data base was used to compare countries with a relative high percentage of frequently ICT-using mathematics teachers (HIMA countries) with countries with a relative low percentage of frequently ICT-using mathematics teachers (LOMA countries). Meaningful effect sizes (≤−0.5 or ≥0.5) for 29% of the items in the SITES 2006 database were found. The findings suggest that mathematics teachers in HIMA countries, more than in LOMA countries apply a learner-centered approach in their educational practice and have a focus on life long learning competencies. In addition, compared to LOMA countries, school leaders in HIMA countries, are active in stimulating the use of ICT and encouraging teachers to apply new ways of teaching and learning. The school level items of the SITES 2006 database with meaningful effect size were factor-analyzed resulting in five factors: 1. active communication, 2. school leadership development, 3. assessment orientation, 4. ICT use by school leaders and 5. Bottom–up change orientation. Country profile scores for HIMA and LOMA countries and for culturally comparable countries were generated to illustrate how these country profiles can be used to inform ICT policy