Science Standards Presentation

A Comparison of Nine Economies’ Mathematics & Science Standards: Preliminary Findings Phase 1: Science: 

A Comparison of Nine Economies’ Mathematics & Science Standards: Preliminary Findings Phase 1: Science Education to Achieve 21st Century Competencies and Skills for All: Respecting the Past to Move Toward the Future Xi’an, China January 2008 1

Science Findings: Organizational FrameworkBroad variety of organization: 

Science Findings: Organizational Framework Broad variety of organization Single Years: Korea Japan (Primary) Singapore (Primary) Cumulative Assessment Framework: USA (NAEP) 2

Science Findings: Organizational Framework: 

Science Findings: Organizational Framework 3

Science Findings: Standards Analyzed: 

Science Findings: Standards Analyzed 4

MethodologyScience Content Codes: 

Methodology Science Content Codes 5

Slide6: 

Science Content Findings Economies’ Relative Emphasis on Major Disciplines 6

Science Content Findings Major Differences in Emphasis: 

Science Content Findings Major Differences in Emphasis 7

Science Content FindingsAPEC Average Portrait across Years: 

Science Content Findings APEC Average Portrait across Years 8

Slide9: 

Science Content Findings Physical Science Average Across Years 9

Slide10: 

Science Content Findings: Economy Portraits Physical Science Average Across Years 10

Science Content FindingsEconomies’ Above & Below Average Emphasis on Physical Science: 

Science Content Findings Economies’ Above & Below Average Emphasis on Physical Science 11

Science Content FindingsEconomies’ Above & Below Average Emphasis on Life Science: 

Science Content Findings Economies’ Above & Below Average Emphasis on Life Science 12

Science Content FindingsEconomies’ Above & Below Average Emphasis on Earth & Space Science: 

Science Content Findings Economies’ Above & Below Average Emphasis on Earth & Space Science 13

Upper Secondary Course Standards Received for Analysis: 

Upper Secondary Course Standards Received for Analysis 14

Focus on Life Sciences: 

Content Codes: Living Things: organization & structure of living things Life Functions: Life processes & systems enabling life functions Life Cycles & Evolution: Life cycles, genetic continuity, diversity Ecology: Interactions of living things Human Biology & Health Focus on Life Sciences 15

Science Content Findings Upper Secondary Course Comparison: Biology: 

Science Content Findings Upper Secondary Course Comparison: Biology 16

Science Content Findings Upper Secondary Course Comparison: Biology: 

Science Content Findings Upper Secondary Course Comparison: Biology 17

Science Performance Skills: 

Science Performance Skills 18

Science Performance Findings APEC Average Portrait: 

Science Performance Findings APEC Average Portrait 19

Science Performance FindingsTrends in Strand Emphasis Across Levels of Schooling: 

Science Performance Findings Trends in Strand Emphasis Across Levels of Schooling Most economies place greater than 50% emphasis on Understanding. Economies place approximately 40% emphasis on Scientific Inquiry and Investigation: Using tools, routine procedures, and science processes. Investigating the natural world Most Economies place less than 10% emphasis on: Theorizing, analyzing, and solving problems Communicating 20

Science Performance FindingScientific Inquiry & Investigation Comparison: 

Science Performance Finding Scientific Inquiry & Investigation Comparison 21

Science Findings: Summary: 

Science Findings: Summary Content: Economies vary in emphasis on life, physical, and Earth & space sciences Upper Secondary Courses: Some variation in emphases within each course Performance: Much variation in Economies’ emphasis of performance skills, especially in upper level courses General emphasis on Understanding and Using routines, procedures & processes 22

Next Steps: Direction of Phase Two Analysis: 

Next Steps: Direction of Phase Two Analysis 23

Questions for Economies in Math & Science: 

Questions for Economies in Math & Science How could an analysis of what Economies assess & how they assess further our understanding of what Economies expect students to learn? What educational standards are of most interest? Standards all students learn Standards to prepare students for tertiary education Standards to prepare students for STEM careers 24