|
SciMathMN Receives Grant to Analyze TIMSS 2007 Data
SciMathMN has received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to analyze the results of Minnesota student participation in the 2007 Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). SciMathMN will contract with nationally known researchers to analyze the achievement data and the questionnaires for students and staff. Minnesota students at grades 4 and 8 took the assessment in mathematics and science. Minnesota students last participated in 1995 and this analysis should shed light on what has happened in the dozen years since 1995 How well will Minnesota students perform compared to the 68 states and nations in the study? Massachusetts is the only other state in 2007 to participate with enough students to be included as a “mini-nation” in the study. A student sample from the United States as a whole will allow the United States to be compared to other nations.
SciMath’s report will coincide with the international release of the data on Dec. 9, 2008. SciMathMN will partner with the Minnesota Business Partnership, ADC Foundation, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota High Tech Association in coordinating the analysis.
The TIMSS analysis will answer the following questions:
- What similarities and differences are there in Minnesota students’ achievement in 2007 in mathematics and science, at grades 4 and 8, compared to student achievement in 1995?
- Will Minnesota students continue the strength in 8th grade science that was among the best in the world and will there be improvement in the average performance in mathematics that characterized the 1995 testing results?
- How do Minnesota students compare to the other 67 nations in the 2007 study, to the Massachusetts students who participated and to the United States as a whole?
- What do the surveys and achievement data indicate would be wise steps for improvement in student education in the important disciplines of mathematics and science to positively impact Minnesota’s workforce?
Click here to see review results of the 1995 testing of Minnesota students at grades 4, 8 and 12 and to link to other current TIMSS information.
The Minnesota Legislature appropriated $500,000 in funding to allow Minnesota students to participate in 2007 in TIMSS, an international test. An additional $150,000 was raised from Minnesota businesses. SciMathMN was the sponsor of the original TIMSS testing in Minnesota in 1995. | 
