[Culturechat] PISA Test

[Phil and Jane King]

I agree with Virginia Knueppel's statement that constant testing leaves 
little time for teaching.  A couple of other factors may be involved when 
trying to compare students from widely differing systems:  1) Is this test a 
"biggie" in their system, so that teachers are liable to "teach to the test" 
or students take courses aimed at helping them perform well (such as SAT 
prep courses)?  2) How is the sample chosen?  Is it totally random, or does 
it tend to pick testees from college-prep high schools (lycées, gymnasiums), 
which are virtually unknown in some countries outside the large cities?  Is 
there a demographic bias that would favor some countries over others?
    I'm not trying to account for any system's good or poor showing, and 
goodness knows I, and any other American educator, can find plenty of fault 
with our educational institutions.  But numbers don't always reveal that 
apples and oranges are being compared.

Jane

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vance Roy" <gigli.saw@dplanet.ch>
To: <culturechat@untours.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 8:05 AM
Subject: [Culturechat] PISA Test


> Perhaps some of the teachers in the chat can amplify on this test and what 
> they think of it. The PISA (Programme for International Student 
> Assessment) is a test given to between 4,500 and 10,000 15 year old 
> students in the industrialized countries of the world. The 2003 tests were 
> completed and I read the results this week in the local paper.
>
> Of course, the main interest here is in Switzerland's performance. I found 
> some surprises.
>
>  In reading, CH ranks 11th, the USA 15th, and Finnland is 1st. Russia is 
> last (29th). In the 2000 tests (they are given every three years), 
> Finnland was 1st, USA 15th, and CH was 17th. Russia was last at 29th.
>
> In mathematics in 2003, Finnland was 1st, CH was 7th, and the USA was 
> 25th--next to the last, Russia. In 2000, Japan was 1st, CH was 7th, and 
> the USA was 19th (five up from the bottom, Italy).
>
> In the natural sciences in 2003, Finnland was 1st, Ch was 9th, and the USA 
> was 19th, again five up from the bottom, Italy. In 2000, it was South 
> Korea 1st, CH 18th (6 up from the bottom, Russia), and the USA was 14th.
>
> In the category of problem solving in 2003, South Korea was 1st, CH was 
> 8th, and the USA was 24th (one up from the bottom, Italy.
>
> I wonder what all this means for our next generation? India and China are 
> not in the test group, but I have a hunch by 2006 or 2009, they will be up 
> there with the Koreans and Finns.. Are all our grandchildren's bosses 
> going to be from other countries?
>
> Vance Roy
> gigli.saw@dplanet.ch
> http://homepage.mac.com/fredch
>
> “Never under estimate the ingenuity of the stupid.”
> Anon.
>
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