A Splintered Vision : An Investigation of U.S. Science and Mathematics Education

__A Splintered Vision: An Investigation of U.S. Science and Mathematics____Education__ is the US report on the curriculum analysis component of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) which was sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). The report summarizes data from the TIMSS curriculum analysis and integrates it with teacher questionnaire data from the US, Japan, and Germany on science and mathematics topic coverage and instructional practices. The authors of __A Splintered Vision__ discuss and provide evidence of the unfocused nature of US mathematics and science curricular intentions, textbooks, and teacher practices. They offer the premise that producers of US textbooks and curriculum guides have attempted to answer calls for curricular reform by adding new content to already existing materials instead of devoting time to restructuring the materials. The authors also suggest that US teachers, inundated with a myriad of competing visions, are attempting to cover all the topics they confront in their resource documents and to meet all the instructional demands placed on them by those with a stake in education. In keeping with the `incremental assembly line' philosophy in American society, US teachers also tend to lean toward a piecemeal approach to education. The authors speculate on what such practices may mean for the mathematics and science achievement of US students. The work is sure to spur discussion among educational researchers, policy makers, and others concerned about the future of mathematics and science education in the US. A Splintered Vision: An Investigation Of U.s. Science And Mathematics Education Is The U.s. Report On The Curriculum Analysis Component Of The Third International Mathematics And Science Study (timss) Which Was Sponsored By The International Association For The Evaluation Of Educational Achievement (iea). The Report Summarizes Data From The Timss Curriculum Analysis And Integrates It With Teacher Questionnaire Data From The U.s., Japan, And Germany On Science And Mathematics Topic Coverage And Instructional Practices. The Authors Of A Splintered Vision Discuss And Provide Evidence Of The Unfocused Nature Of U.s. Mathematics And Science Curricular Intentions, Textbooks, And Teacher Practices. They Offer The Premise That Producers Of U.s. Textbooks And Curriculum Guides Have Attempted To Answer Calls For Curricular Reform By Adding New Content To Already Existing Materials Instead Of Devoting Time To Restructuring The Materials. The Authors Also Suggest That U.s. Teachers, Inundated With A Myriad Of Competing Visions, Are Attempting To Cover All The Topics They Confront In Their Resource Documents And By Meeting All The Instructional Demands Placed On Them By Those With A Stake In Education. In Keeping With The Incremental Assembly Line Philosophy In American Society, U.s. Teachers Also Tend To Lean Toward A Piecemeal Approach To Education. The Authors Speculate On What Such Practices May Mean For The Mathematics And Science Achievement Of U.s. Students. Ch. 1. Unfocused Curricula -- Ch. 2. U.s. Textbooks: Conflicting Demands, Cautious Visions -- Ch. 3. U.s. Teachers: Responding To Splintered Visions -- Ch. 4. How Has Our Vision Become So Splintered? -- Ch. 5. So What Can We Expect From U.s. Students? -- Ch. 6. Open Questions: How Do We Get Where We Want To Go? -- App. A. Timss Curriculum Frameworks: Measuring Curricular Elements -- App. B. Documents Analyzed -- App. C. Means, Proportions, And Standard Errors For Teacher Data -- App. D. List Of Exhibits. William H. Schmidt, Curtis C. Mcknight, And Senta A. Raizen ; With The Collaboration Of Pamela M. Jakwerth [and Others]. This Report Discusses Data From ... The Third International Mathematics And Science Study (timss)--page 1. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 159-163). A Splintered Vision: An Investigation of U.S. Science and Mathematics Education is the US report on the curriculum analysis component of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) which was sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). The report summarizes data from the TIMSS curriculum analysis and integrates it with teacher questionnaire data from the US, Japan, and Germany on science and mathematics topic coverage and instructional practices. The authors of A Splintered Vision discuss and provide evidence of the unfocused nature of US mathematics and science curricular intentions, textbooks, and teacher practices. They offer the premise that producers of US textbooks and curriculum guides have attempted to answer calls for curricular reform by adding new content to already existing materials instead of devoting time to restructuring the materials. The authors also suggest that US teachers, inundated with a myriad of competing visions, are attempting to cover all the topics they confront in their resource documents and to meet all the instructional demands placed on them by those with a stake in education. In keeping with the `incremental assembly line' philosophy in American society, US teachers also tend to lean toward a piecemeal approach to education. The authors speculate on what such practices may mean for the mathematics and science achievement of US students. The work is sure to spur discussion among educational researchers, policy makers, and others concerned about the future of mathematics and science education in the US. Introduction....Pages 1-11 Unfocused Curricula....Pages 13-52 U.S. Textbooks: Conflicting Demands, Cautious Visions....Pages 53-68 U.S. Teachers: Responding to Splintered Visions....Pages 69-88 How Has Our Vision Become So Splintered?....Pages 89-109 So What Can We Expect from U.S. Students?....Pages 111-120 Open Questions: How Do We Get Where We Want to Go?....Pages 121-126