Mathematics Teaching and Learning in Relation to the Danish Results in TIMSS Population 2

Abstract

In the Danish Folkeskole (basic school) mathematics are taught according to a relatively new curriculum since 1995. In this curriculum the discipline is formal which means that the starting point for teaching is the pupil and not the contents of mathematics. This way of learning is also reflected in the missing test-culture, which so far has been valid within the subject of mathematics in the Danish Folkeskole. On this background, The Danish Organization for Mathematics Teachers was against the participation of Denmark in TIMSS. Therefore, Denmark collected data from pupils in 4 grades, from grade 6 to 9. This unique material made it possible to evaluate the progression in achievement nationally, and internationally it was possible to compare pupils both by grade and age. Thus, the achievement of Danish pupils was below the international average in TIMSS when compared by age, but above the international average when comparisons were made by grade. Furthermore, the TIMSS results revealed that Denmark had large gender differences in achievement. This resulted in further investigations to determine why the girls in Denmark reject the subjects of mathematics and science in their choice of final education.