How are curriculum policies translated into opportunities to learn in the classroom?

According to the Book presents findings from the largest cross-national study of textbooks carried out to date - the curriculum analysis of the 1995 Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This study included a detailed, page-by-page, inventory of the mathematics and science content, pedagogy, and other characteristics collected from hundreds of textbooks in over forty countries.

Drawing on these data, the authors investigate the rhetorical and pedagogical features of textbooks to understand how they promote and constrain educational opportunities. They investigate how textbooks are constructed and how they structure diverse elements into prescriptions for teaching practice.

The authors break new ground in understanding textbooks in terms of different educational opportunities that they make possible. The book examines policy implications from these new understandings. In particular, conclusions are offered regarding the role of textbooks in curriculum-driven educational reform, in light of their role as promoters of qualitatively distinct educational opportunities.

How are curriculum policies translated into opportunities to learn in the classroom?

According to the Book presents findings from the largest cross-national study of textbooks carried out to date - the curriculum analysis of the 1995 Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This study included a detailed, page-by-page, inventory of the mathematics and science content, pedagogy, and other characteristics collected from hundreds of textbooks in over forty countries.

Drawing on these data, the authors investigate the rhetorical and pedagogical features of textbooks to understand how they promote and constrain educational opportunities. They investigate how textbooks are constructed and how they structure diverse elements into prescriptions for teaching practice.

The authors break new ground in understanding textbooks in terms of different educational opportunities that they make possible. The book examines policy implications from these new understandings. In particular, conclusions are offered regarding the role of textbooks in curriculum-driven educational reform, in light of their role as promoters of qualitatively distinct educational opportunities.

PREFACE The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and the g- ernments of the participating countries, is acomparative study of education in mathematics and the sciences conducted in approximately 50 educational systems on six continents. The goal of TIMSS is to measure student achievement in mathematics and science in participating countries and to assess some of the curricular and classroom factors that are related to student learning in these subjects. The study is intended to provide educators and policy makers with an unpar- leled and multidimensional perspective on mathematics and science curricula; their implem- tation; the nature of student performance in mathematics and science; and the social, econ- ic, and educational context in which these occur. TIMSS focuses on student learning and achievement in mathematics and science at three different age levels, or populations. * Population 1 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 9-year-old students; * Population 2 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 13-year-old students; and * Population 3 is defined as all students in their final year of secondary education, incl- ing students in vocational education programs. In addition, Population 3 has two "specialist" subpopulations: students taking advanced courses in mathematics (mathematics specialists), and students taking advanced courses in physics (physics specialists).

PREFACE The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and the g- ernments of the participating countries, is acomparative study of education in mathematics and the sciences conducted in approximately 50 educational systems on six continents. The goal of TIMSS is to measure student achievement in mathematics and science in participating countries and to assess some of the curricular and classroom factors that are related to student learning in these subjects. The study is intended to provide educators and policy makers with an unpar- leled and multidimensional perspective on mathematics and science curricula; their implem- tation; the nature of student performance in mathematics and science; and the social, econ- ic, and educational context in which these occur. TIMSS focuses on student learning and achievement in mathematics and science at three different age levels, or populations. * Population 1 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 9-year-old students; * Population 2 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 13-year-old students; and * Population 3 is defined as all students in their final year of secondary education, incl- ing students in vocational education programs. In addition, Population 3 has two "specialist" subpopulations: students taking advanced courses in mathematics (mathematics specialists), and students taking advanced courses in physics (physics specialists).

PREFACE The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (lEA) and the gov ernments of the participating countries, is a comparative study of education in mathematics and the sciences conducted in approximately 50 educational systems on five continents. The goal of TIMSS is to measure student achievement in mathematics and science in participating coun tries and to assess some of the curricular and classroom factors that influence student learning in these subjects. The study will provide educators and policy makers with an unparalleled and multidimensional perspective on mathematics and science curricula; their implementation; the nature of student performance in mathematics and science; and the social, economic, and edu cational context in which these occur. TIMSS focuses on student learning and achievement in mathematics and science at three different age levels, or populations. * Population 1 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 9-year-old students; * Population 2 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 13-year-old students; and * Population 3 is defined as all students in their final year of secondary education, includ ing students in vocational education programs. In addition, Population 3 has two "specialist" subpopulations: students taking advanced courses in mathematics (mathematics specialists), and students taking advanced courses in physics (science specialists).

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 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.

PREFACE The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (lEA) and the gov ernments of the participating countries, is a comparative study of education in mathematics and the sciences conducted in approximately 50 educational systems on five continents. The goal of TIMSS is to measure student achievement in mathematics and science in participating coun tries and to assess some of the curricular and classroom factors that influence student learning in these subjects. The study will provide educators and policy makers with an unparalleled and multidimensional perspective on mathematics and science curricula; their implementation; the nature of student performance in mathematics and science; and the social, economic, and edu cational context in which these occur. TIMSS focuses on student learning and achievement in mathematics and science at three different age levels, or populations. * Population 1 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 9-year-old students; * Population 2 is defined as all students enrolled in the two adjacent grades that contain the largest proportion of 13-year-old students; and * Population 3 is defined as all students in their final year of secondary education, includ ing students in vocational education programs. In addition, Population 3 has two "specialist" subpopulations: students taking advanced courses in mathematics (mathematics specialists), and students taking advanced courses in physics (science specialists).

Characterizing Pedagogical Flow presents conclusions from a multi-disciplinary, multi-national research project blending quantitative and qualitative approaches through a discourse methodology. The work produced portraits of mathematics and science education that were dramatically different for each of the countries involved: France, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. To explain these differences, it is proposed that the interaction of curriculum and pedagogy is culturally unique and yields classroom learning experiences that are qualitatively different from country to country. This idea has profound implications for how international education research is interpreted.

Characterizing Pedagogical Flow presents conclusions from a multi-disciplinary, multi-national research project blending quantitative and qualitative approaches through a discourse methodology. The work produced portraits of mathematics and science education that were dramatically different for each of the countries involved: France, Japan, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. To explain these differences, it is proposed that the interaction of curriculum and pedagogy is culturally unique and yields classroom learning experiences that are qualitatively different from country to country. This idea has profound implications for how international education research is interpreted.

Total Quality Management (TQM) - the art of continuous improvement with customer satisfaction as the goal - has become the rallying cry of American businesses, government agencies, and voluntary organizations alike. With lessons from such quality-oriented companies as Motorola, Zytec, and Xerox, The Race Without a Finish Line shows how TQM can be used to help organizations deliver the variety, customization, and timeliness today's customers demand. Based on interviews and site visits with twelve Baldrige Award-winning companies, as well as with two winners of the President's Quality and Productivity Award, The Race Without a Finish Line is a complete guide to implementing TQM in all organizations - private and public. The experiences of leading-edge companies will help managers assess their organization's readiness for the transition and prepare for the cultural revolution required to truly embrace quality. The Race Without a Finish Line shows how to teach employees vital TQM skills - such as teamwork, openness, trust, and collaboration - and how to set up rewards and communications systems that reinforce these values. It offers an insider's guide to winning the Baldrige and President's awards as well as resources to facilitate the implementation of TQM, including a glossary of key terms, a directory of TQM centers, and a bibliography of other TQM publications.