[Maths-Education] seminar 23 February

[Candia Morgan]

All welcome:

Institute of Education, University of London

20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL

Mathematics Education Special Interest Group

Research Seminar

23 February 6 – 7:30 pm Room 802

In Search of Explanations for the High Performance of East Asian  
Students in International Studies of Mathematics Achievement

Frederick K.S. Leung, The University of Hong Kong

Students from some East Asian countries have consistently outperformed  
their counterparts around the world in mathematics achievement at  
international studies such as TIMSS and PISA.  However, the high  
achievements of these students do not seem to have been accompanied by  
correspondingly positive attitudes towards mathematics.  In seeking  
for explanations of the achievements and attitudes of East Asian  
students, some relevant background characteristics of these countries  
are examined and results of the TIMSS Video Study is presented.  It is  
argued that the high achievements and yet negative attitudes of the  
East Asian students cannot be attributed to the background  
characteristics or the classroom teaching in these countries.   
Cultural factors are then discussed as possible explanations of  
achievements and attitudes.  Finally, implications of the discussion  
for curriculum policies will be explored.