Education Commons^™

Thinking Maths: Learning Impact Fund Evaluation Report: Addendum To The Evaluation Report, Katherine Dix, Hilary Hollingsworth, Toby Carslake

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Thinking Maths is a three-term structured professional learning program for Years 6 - 9 mathematics teachers to engage middle school students’ mathematics learning. The Thinking Maths program has been developed by the South Australian Department for Education based on its Teaching for Effective Learning (TfEL) Framework. The program aims to address a significant drop in students’ mathematics performance in NAPLAN from Years 7 to Year 9. Thinking Maths supports teachers to improve students’ learning of mathematical content during the transition between Primary and Secondary school. Years 6 - 9 teachers participate in five professional learning days at 4 - 5 …

Thinking Maths: Learning Impact Fund Evaluation Report: Evaluation Report And Executive Summary, Katherine Dix, Hilary Hollingsworth, Toby Carslake

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Thinking Maths is a three-term structured professional learning program for Years 6 - 9 mathematics teachers to engage middle school students’ mathematics learning. The Thinking Maths program has been developed by the South Australian Department for Education based on its Teaching for Effective Learning (TfEL) Framework. The program aims to address a significant drop in students’ mathematics performance in NAPLAN from Years 7 to Year 9. Thinking Maths supports teachers to improve students’ learning of mathematical content during the transition between Primary and Secondary school. Years 6 - 9 teachers participate in five professional learning days at 4 - 5 …

Communicating Student Learning Progress: What Does That Mean And Can It Make A Difference?, Hilary Hollingsworth, Jonathan Heard

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Traditionally in schools, the main method of communicating students’ academic performance has been the summative end-of-semester report, and the focus of much of this communication has centred on reporting achievement against year-level standards. While semester reporting largely remains established practice, the advent of new school management systems has seen schools embrace a practice known as ‘continuous reporting’. Though well-intended, early analysis would suggest that the potential benefits of this relatively new process are inconsistently understood, and reveal a confusion between progressive instalments of feedback versus feedback on student progress. Such confusion may be indicative of other gaps in the organisational …

Review Of Years 9 To 12 Tasmania : Final Report, Geoff N. Masters, Kathryn Moyle, Sheldon Rothman, Hilary Hollingsworth, Bill Perrett, Paul R. Weldon, Kate Perkins, Justin Brown, Ali Radloff, Patricia Freeman, Sofi Damianidis

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The Tasmanian Government is currently implementing significant reforms to improve students’ retention and attainment in Tasmania’s schools. There is a concern in the Tasmanian community however, that their students’ performances are among the lowest in the nation. Reasons nominated for these results include weak literacy and numeracy levels; low attendance rates; high anxiety around transitions between Year 10 and Year 11 by some students, especially among those living outside of the larger cities; students seeking alternative education options; and family, financial, health and carer based issues. It is against this backdrop that the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was …

Investing In Teachers, Adeola Capel, Hilary Hollingsworth, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Alison Lonsdale, Yung Nietschke, Rachel Parker, Kate Reid, Jeaniene Spink, Mollie Tobin, Mary Fearnley-Sander, Jacinta Overs

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

This evaluation compares evidence from the literature with Australia’s experience in supporting teacher development in a range of developing countries. It uses case studies to good effect in explaining choices made, the extent to which expectations were or were not met, and the lessons for future Australian assistance for teacher development. The evaluation found mixed results. In cooperation with governments and other donors, Australia has made positive contributions, such as improving teacher frameworks and curriculums, and training teachers through a range of interventions. However, there is room to improve—for example, in enhancing policy, strengthening analysis and negotiating new investments—so teacher …

Sharing The Assessment Reform Story, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

A new web-based resource is chronicling the experiences of schools as they undertake assessment reform.

Diving Deeper With Assessment, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

ACER is helping educators to understand and implement assessment practices for positive classroom change and improved learning.

Session P - Challenges And Opportunities For Neuroscience : How To Explain The Connection Between Socio-Cultural Practices And Cognition?, David Clarke, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Concurrent Session Block 3

Cultural Differences In Teaching And Learning, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

People in different cultures might learn in fundamentally different ways, Hilary Hollingsworth explains.

Teaching Mathematics In Australia : Results From The Timss 1999 Video Study, Jan Lokan, Barry Mcrae, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The broad purpose of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Video Study was to investigate and describe Year 8 mathematics and science teaching practices in a variety of countries. More specific aims included : development of objective, observational measures of classroom instruction to serve as quantitative indicators of teaching practices; comparison of teaching practices to identify similar or different lesson features across countries; and development of methods for reporting results of the study, including preparation of video cases for both research and professional development purposes. Australia's goals for participating in the study emphasised : obtaining authentic and rich …

Learning About Teaching And Teaching About Learning: Using Video Data For Research And Professional Development, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Although video technology has been available for several decades, the collection and use of classroom video data for supporting and improving teaching and learning can still be considered to be in its infancy.A variety of research and professional development projects have made use of video data, revealing promising initial outcomes and identifying many possibilities for its use. However, relatively little systematic research has been conducted on the feasibility and effectiveness of various types and uses of video in education (Brophy, 2004). This paper outlines the nature and virtues of video data, and describes several Australian examples of research and professional …

Learning From International Studies Of Teaching : The Timss-R Video Study., James Hiebert, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

This paper discusses the Third International Mathematics and Science Study - Repeat (TIMSS-R) Video Study. In addition to the broad goal of describing mathematics teaching in seven countries including a number of countries with records of high achievement, the study had the following research objectives: to develop objective, observational measures of classroom instruction to serve as appropriate quantitative indicators of teaching practice in each country; to compare teaching practice and identify similar or different lessons; and to describe patterns of teaching practice for each country.

Teaching Mathematics In Seven Countries : Results From The Timss 1999 Video Study., James Hiebert, Ronald Gallimore, Helen Garnier, Karen Bogard Givvin, Hilary Hollingsworth, Jennifer Jacobs, Angel Miu-Ying Chui, Diana Wearne, Margaret Smith, Nicole Kersting, Alfred Manaster, Ellen Tseng, Wallace Etterbeek, Carl Manaster, Patrick Gonzales, James Stigler

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study sampled eighth grade mathematics lessons in seven countries including Australia. As well as describing teaching in these countries the study aimed to : develop objective, observational measures of classroom instruction to serve as appropriate quantitative indicators of teaching practices in each country; compare teaching practices among countries and identify similar or different lesson features across countries; describe patterns of teaching within each country; and develop methods for communicating the results of the study, through written reports and video cases, for both research and professional development purposes. The results in …

Teaching Science In Australia : Results From The Timss 1999 Video Study, Jan Lokan, Hilary Hollingsworth, Mark Hackling

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study was conducted to investigate and describe Year 8 mathematics and science teaching practices in a variety of countries. This Australian report of the science component of the study includes many of the international results, but focuses on making comparisons and commentary from an Australian perspective. The study confirms that there is more than one way to successfully teach science. The results showed that teachers in the participating countries used a variety of teaching methods and combined them in different ways – providing several perspectives on effective teaching. The participating …

Towards Excellence In Mathematics Teaching: Forging Links Between National Curriculum And Professional Standards Initiatives, Hilary Hollingsworth, Catherine Pearn

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

No abstract provided.

What Is Effective Mathematics Teaching? International Educators' Judgements Of Mathematics Lessons From The Timss 1999 Video Study., Karen Givvin, Jennifer Jacobs, Hilary Hollingsworth, James Hiebert

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

It has been well documented that classroom mathematics teaching differs across countries (Clarke et al., 2006a; Givvin et al., 2005; Hiebert et al., 2003a, 2003b; LeTendre et al., 2001; Leung, 1995; Stigler & Hiebert, 1999). Much less is known about whether leading educators in different countries differ in their views about what kinds of teaching should be occurring. Do the differences in classroom practices across countries mirror differences in experts’ views or do the differences exist in spite of shared views among experts? The goal of this chapter is to address this question.

Video-Based Reseach Made "Easy" Methodological Lessons Learned From The Timms Video Studies, Jennifer Jacobs, Hilary Hollingsworth, Karen Givvin

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

In this article, the authors share some of the methodological lessons learned from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1995 and TIMSS 1999 Video Studies. They focus on their experiences overseeing these large-scale, video-based, cross-national surveys of teaching. The article documents some of the progress the authors made, as well as some of the obstacles they encountered. The authors hope that the ideas shared here help prevent possible missteps, enhance the quality of projects, and encourage researchers to advance the use of video as a methodology.

Learning About Teaching : Using Video, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

This article describes some Australian research and professional development projects that use classroom video data, and explains some of the positive outcomes, as well as some of the challenges, of these projects. A variety of methodologies have been used to collect, store, retrieve, code, navigate and analyse classroom video data. These include CD-Rom, DVD and web streaming to dedicated software platforms. Video is used to preserve classroom activity so that it can be 'slowed down' to enable detailed examinations of teaching and learning from multiple perspectives, reveal alternatives through comparative analysis, and stimulate discussions about choices related to teaching learning. …

What Does Teaching Look Like Around The World?, Karen Givvin, Jennifer Jacobs, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

If you could peer into a classroom in a foreign country, what would you see? If you could see multiple lessons from that country, what patterns would emerge? If you could do the same across several countries, how would you further refine your images? The logistics of such an undertaking are formidable and nearly impossible for any single person. However, the authors of this article, as part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study, were able to participate in the endeavor described above -- albeit via video, rather than in personIf you could peer into …

Does Eighth-Grade Mathematics Teaching In The United States Align With The Nctm Standards? Results From The Timss 1995 And 1999 Video Studies, Jennifer Jacobs, James Hiebert, Karen Givvin, Hilary Hollingsworth, Helen Garner, Diana Wearne

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Debates about the future of school mathematics in the United States often centre on whether standards-based instruction in improving or undermining students' achievement. Critical for making progress in these debates is information about the actual nature of classroom practice in US classrooms. This article focuses on one key element of classroom practice teaching, and presents the results of two studies of randomly selected, nationally representative US eighth grade mathematics lessons that were videotaped as part of the TIMSS 1995 and 1999 video studies. Analyses compare features of teaching found in these lessons with pedagogical recommendations for middle school teachers in …

Are There National Patterns Of Teaching? Evidence From The Timss 1999 Video Study, Karen Givvin, James Hiebert, Jennifer Jacobs, Hilary Hollingsworth, Ronald Gallimore

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Why do teachers today teach as they do, and why has teaching evolved in the way that it has evolved? In order to improve teaching, it is important to understand why teaching looks the way that it now does and how its general form can be explained. One way to address this question is at the classroom level. In this article we build on ethnographic research by using the 1999 Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) video archives. Here we consider two possible explanations for the general patterns that have developed in school teaching. One explanation is that there …

Lesson Study : A Professional Learning Model That Actually Makes A Difference, Hilary Hollingsworth, Delwyn Oliver

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Over the past year, a group of mathematics teachers from one Victorian school engaged in a process of professional learning called Lesson Study. In bi-weekly meetings that focused on the development of a single exemplary lesson, they questioned, pondered, discussed, debated, explored, and examined mathematics, and the teaching and learning of mathematics. This paper describes the process and the outcomes of what these teachers consider to be the most powerful professional learning they have experienced.

Mathematics Teaching In The United States Today (And Tomorrow) : Results From The Timss 1999 Video Study, James Hiebert, James Stigler, Jennifer Jacobs, Karen Givvin, Helen Garnier, Margaret Smith, Hilary Hollingsworth, Alfred Manaster, Diana Wearne, Ronald Gallimore

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study examined eighth-grade mathematics teaching in the United States and six higher-achieving countries. A range of teaching systems were found across higher-achieving countries that balanced attention to challenging content, procedural skill, and conceptual understanding in different ways. The United States displayed a unique system of teaching, not because of any particular feature but because of a constellation of features that reinforced attention to lower-level mathematics skills. The authors argue that these results are relevant for policy (mathematics) debates in the United States because they provide a current account of what …

From Research To Practice : Using The Timss Video Study Findings To Enhance Australian Mathematics Teaching, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The findings of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study have been reported at both international and national levels, however its impact on Australian mathematics teaching has yet to be realised. How can the results of the video study inform teachers' efforts toward excellence in mathematics teaching in Australia? This paper highlights some of the findings and recommendations in the national report, 'Teaching Mathematics in Australia: Results from the TIMSS 1999 Video Study', and anticipates ways that the products of the study might be used for improving teaching and teacher development. The broad purpose of the …

Engaging With Excellence In Mathematics Teaching : Creating Excellence In The Learning Environment, Ray Peck, Hilary Hollingsworth, W Morony

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

No abstract provided.

The Timss 1999 Video Study And Its Relevance To Australian Mathematics Education Research, Innovation, Networking, And Opportunities., Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Results from the mathematics portion of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study, comparing videotaped Year 8 mathematics lessons from seven countries, were released in March 2003. This paper presents selected findings from that study, with a focus on those results that might be of particular interest to Australian educators. In addition, the paper considers ways in which the results and products from this study can make a lasting contribution to the field of mathematics education. Three areas are described: the innovation associated with the study's 'video survey' research methodology; the networking possibilities for mathematics educators …

Looking At Others And Ourselves : What Australian Mathematics Teachers Can Learn From The Timss 1999 Video Study., Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

As a tool for studying and improving teaching, video offers tremendous learning opportunities. Videotaped lessons enable teachers to efficiently and effectively 'visit' classrooms not only in their own school, district or country, but also in other countries. Through observing and analysing videotaped lessons teachers can learn about real teaching alternatives as they are actually practised. As part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study, over 600 mathematics lessons from seven different countries were videotaped and analysed. This paper focuses on what Australian mathematics teachers can learn from the study, and in particular what can be …

Elaborating A Model Of Teacher Professional Growth, David Clarke, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

This paper details a model of teacher professional growth and relates the model to the research data on which the model is empirically founded. A key feature of the model is its inclusion of four analytic domains in close correspondence to those employed by Guskey (Educational Researcher 15(5), 1986) and others, but the model proposed in this paper identifies the specific mechanisms by which change in one domain is associated with change in another. The interconnected, non-linear structure of the model enabled the identification of particular “change sequences” and “growth networks”, giving recognition to the idiosyncratic and individual nature of …

Improving Teaching: A Case For Cases, Hilary Hollingsworth, David Clarke

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

Other professions make extensive use of the study of cases for professional development. This article points out the particular virtues which a case-based (as opposed to principles- based) approach adds to a comprehensive professional development program.

A Structure For Quality Mathematics Instruction, Hilary Hollingsworth, David Clarke

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The intention of the authors in this paper is to set out a possible structure by which teachers might incorporate the products of recent curriculum initiatives into their mathematics teaching. They have chosen to focus on Chance and Data as the academic content of their examples.