Grant amount
NIS 2,100,000
Teaching Evaluation Instrument For Mathematics Tasks
Development of a Teaching Evaluation Instrument for High Level Applied Mathematics Tasks to be Implemented by 200 Teachers of the Advanced Track in Middle School
Development of a Teaching Evaluation Instrument for High Level Applied Mathematics Tasks to be Implemented by 200 Teachers of the Advanced Track in Middle School
The national mathematics curriculum for middle school focuses on procedural fluency and technique. However, in recent years it has begun introducing more applied aspects, such as problem solving and modeling, which require deeper thinking and understanding. Nevertheless, in practice, this new portion of the curriculum is marginalized as it is harder to teach and learn and because it is rarely tested on the standardized examinations. The PISA framework in mathematics is an exception to this rule, since it concentrates exactly on these elements of mathematical reasoning and modeling. Unfortunately, Israeli teachers and students are less familiar with these concepts.
In order to address this gap, the Weizmann Institute of Science proposes a professional learning program for 200 eighth and ninth grade teachers of excellence classes and high ability groups in mathematics. The idea is to expose the teachers to learning assignments that are aligned with PISA and to coach them in the process of implementing them in their classroom teaching. This process will be enhanced by using a special evaluation instrument that will be developed for this program. The evaluation instrument will help teachers assess the attributes of each learning assignment and to reflect on their teaching practice. By using this instrument, teachers will be able to develop deeper awareness and understanding of what they teach and how they teach it.
In the first year, a development team will be assembled comprised of the project leaders, a technology expert, professional consultants and six mathematics teachers. The team will define criteria and then gradually develop a database of 24 learning assignments, congruent with the PISA mathematics framework. The database will grow further with tasks from all available sources, mostly from other programs funded by the foundation. The team will then develop the evaluation instrument and create a teaching and learning environment that will enable teachers to use the tasks and the instrument effectively. At the end of the first year, two professional learning communities (PLCs) will be formed with forty teachers who will learn how to use the new content and conduct a pilot experiment in their classrooms.
As of the second year, based on lessons learned in the pilot program, ten additional communities will be created, each operating over two years, reaching a total of 200 teachers. The teachers will be expected to use the tasks in their mathematics classes and incrementally increase the level of difficulty. Student learning will be measured with a diagnostic tool that is developed by the Center for Educational Technology, aligned with PISA levels 5-6 in mathematics.
* The text presented above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation Board / Grant 371