Why is Asian Math teaching better than U'S

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Why is Asian Math teaching better than U.S?

• By Olivia Mualim

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Background

• 1. PISA (Program for International Student
• Assessment)
• Began in 2000, every three years.
• Assessing students mathematical ability to apply
  the math they learned in school to solve
  real-life math problems.
• 2. TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and
• Sciences Study)
• Began in 1995, every four years.
• Focus more closely on the curriculum between the
• Asian and the U.S.

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• 3. CSMC (Center for the Study of Mathematics
  
• Curriculum)
• Serves the K-12 educational community by
• focusing scholarly inquiry and professional
• development around issues of mathematics
• curriculum.
• Major areas of work
• (a) Understanding the influence and potential
  of
• mathematics curriculum materials.
• (b) Enabling teachers learning through
• curriculum materials and implementation.
• (c) building capacity for developing,
• implementing and studying the impact of
  
• mathematics curriculum materials.

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Mathematics and Science Literacy Average scores
of 15-year-olds, PISA
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What is the Rank of U.S at the TIMSS?
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TIMSS (Third International Mathematics and
Science Study)

• Three age levels
• 1. 9-yo grade 3 4
• 2. 12-yo grade 7 8
• 3. 16-yo grade 12
• Five content areas
• 1. Fractions and number sense.
• 2. Measurement.
• 3. Data representation, Statistical analysis,
  and probability.
• 4. Geometry.
• 5. Algebra.

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First International Curriculum Conference

• By CSMC (Center for the Study of Mathematics
  Curriculum).
• At University of Chicago on November 11-13, 2005
• Speakers
• 1. Japan.
• a. Mr. Shigeo Yoshikawa, Department of
  Education
• Curriculum, Ministry of Education, Tokyo.
• b. Mr. Ryosuke Nagaoka, The University of
  the Air.
• 2. Singapore
• a. Mr. Soh Cheow Kian, Curriculum Planning
  and
• Development Division, Ministry of
  Education.
• b. Mr. Lee Peng Yee, National Institute of
  Education.

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• 3. Korea
• a. Mr. Hee-chan Lew, Korea National
  University of Education,
• Cheongwon-Gun, Chungbuk
• b. Ms Jeong Suk Pang, Korea National
  University of Education,
  Cheongwon-Gun, Chungbuk.
• 4. China
• a. Mr. Sun Xiao Tian, Central
  University for Nationalities, Beijing.
• b. Ms. Li Jun, East China Normal
  University, Shanghai.

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What are the focus of comparison?

• Curriculum.
• Teachers training and classroom teaching.
• Students learning and classroom assessments.
• Textbooks
• Other.

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What can U.S math teaching system learn from the
Asian system?

• Task 1 A standardized curriculum.
• Task 2 Teach less, learn more.
• Task 3 The usage of calculators,
  homework, textbook.
• Task 4 Teachers training and teaching
  method.
• Task 5 Parents involvement.