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Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
Overview
TIMSS is a major source for internationally comparative information on mathematics and science achievement of students in the fourth and eighth grades. It also reports on related contextual aspects, such as mathematics and science curricula and classroom practices across countries, including the United States. The frameworks and benchmarks upon which the assessment is based are developed in a collaborative process involving international mathematics and science experts, as well as national research coordinators from each participating country. Thus, they reflect the most recent developments and consensus in the international research community and the interests of a wide range of countries. TIMSS is sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).TIMSS complements what we learn from national assessments, such as NAEP, by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of student performance relative to students around the world. For the first time, Florida is participating in TIMSS to receive state-level results that can be compared to those of the United States and all the other participating countries. Florida’s sample size will be at least 80 graede 4 schools and 60 grade 8 schools. The TIMSS report will be released in December 2012. Examples of released TIMSS test items can be viewed at http://nces.ed.gov/timss/educators.asp. The framework on which the assessment is based can be found at http://timssandpirls.bc.edu/timss2011/frameworks.html.
TIMSS is designed to provide valid and reliable measures of U.S. students’ performance in the aggregate and for major subpopulations, as well as over time. Unlike NAEP, where a student receives questions in only one subject area, TIMSS booklets include both mathematics and science items. Similar to NAEP, TIMSS includes student, teacher, and school questionnaires. At grade 4, TIMSS samples intact classrooms, usually the one in which students spend the most time. At grade 8, the students are sampled in intact mathematics classrooms. TIMSS offers compensation and incentives to participating schools:
- Schools receive $200 compensation
- School TIMSS coordinator receives $100 compensation
- Students receive small gift
Contact
The contact for TIMSS in the state of Florida is Michele Sonnenfeld. She can be contacted by e-mail at or by telephone at 850-245-0513.The direct link to the official TIMSS home page is http://www.timss.org.