171 - 238 CCNA 2: Routers and Routing Basics v3.1 Instructor Guide – Appendix B Copyright © 2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.
B.1.4 TIMSS report Figure 1: TIMSS Report Participating Countries
The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) indicate how U.S. students
perform academically in comparison to students in other countries. The curriculum focuses on
trends in math and science achievement. The study completed in 1995 discovers that fourth
grade students in the United States scored above the international average. Eighth graders in
the United States scored above the international level in science but below the international
level in mathematics. Twelfth graders in the United States scored at the lowest possible levels
in both math and science.
Two findings emerged when different types of knowledge presentation were compared
internationally. First, the United States leads the world in the amount of math and science
objectives that are covered within curriculum. However, U.S. students are not taught how to
use the information that they are learning. Asian nations and European nations teach fewer
objectives and give students more opportunities to use the knowledge in practical applications.
This study also finds dissimilarities in teaching styles. In the United States, problem-solving
usually occurs after the teacher has demonstrated the process to find the correct answer
based upon mathematical principals. Students will then apply this problem-solving process to
similar mathematical problems. In countries such as Japan, the order of methodology is
reversed. Problem-solving comes first in the sequence of learning. Students are presented
with a problem and try to solve the problem based on their current knowledge. They invent
their own solutions and then reflect on the process to better understand the mathematical
concepts. This study encourages educators to examine teaching practices and content to
determine the methods that will lead to higher student achievement.
The most recent implementation of this study is TIMSS 1999, which included 38 countries. The
1999 assessment measured the mathematics and science abilities of eighth grade students.
Extensive data was collected from students, teachers, and school principals about the
mathematics and science curricula. They also investigated instructional practices, home
contexts, school characteristics, and policies. The next TIMSS assessment will occur in 2003.