Learning from TIMSS: Results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, Summary of a Symposium (1997)

Summary: This is a report on a symposium whose primary goal was to seize a moment—soon after the initial release of findings from Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)—when many of the central concerns regarding mathematics and science education would be the focus of considerable public attention. The symposium was designed to “complicate” a discussion that could easily be oversimplified: to foster appreciation of the study’s complexity and of the range and depth of analyses it makes possible. Assuming that the “horse-race” rankings of nations made possible by the achievement results would receive the greatest publicity when the data were released, the symposium planners wanted to initiate a sustained discussion of the data, as well as encourage collaboration among communities of scholars . By raising awareness of some of the difficult issues presented by the complexity of the study’s design, they hoped to influence the ongoing discussion of the study in ways that would enhance its potential to advance education reform.