International Studies: Mathematics and Science
RBS has been a leader in exploring and disseminating the TIMSS data and implications to schools, producing many resource materials and hosting a number of professional development events. Specifically, in partnership with one or more of the above-noted agencies, RBS:
- Translated and disseminated the data from TIMSS for the education community through conferences, workshops, and two electronic mail lists.
- Designed, planned, and offered a two-day TIMSS 1999 Video Study Conference (2003) to introduce participants to the data from the study and video clips of lessons in three countries.
- Provided Video Study Conference participants with an opportunity to take the online TIMSS Algebra course co-developed by LessonLab and Intel Foundation.
- Designed, planned, and offered a two-day follow-up TIMSS Facilitators Workshop (2003) to prepare participants who had completed the course to become facilitators for the TIMSS Algebra course.
- Documented and monitored the courses offered by the TIMSS facilitators.
- Identified and recruited mathematicians (10), pre-college educators (8), post-secondary educators (8), and professional developers (8) to analyze seven TIMSS 1999 mathematics lessons, followed by submission of written reports in preparation for a face-to-face meeting.
- Designed, planned, and convened a four-day TIMSS Work Session at the Wingspread Conference Center (2004) to discuss participants' individual analyses of the 28 public release TIMSS mathematics lessons.
- As a follow-up to the work session, RBS is continuing work on developing a draft resource guide that will be piloted with pre-service and in-service teachers by post-secondary mathematics education faculty and pre-college professional developers.
RBS has developed several products and services to help educators explore the implications of TIMSS for their professional practice:
