Series Of Studies, Surveys & Data Analysis

A year ago, the foundation launched its new roadmap for middle schools, aiming to help Israel reach the top 15 excelling countries in mathematics performance. The roadmap requires the development of new learning materials and pedagogic tools, assisting teachers to adapt their practice, opening more excellence classes in middle schools and engaging policy makers and the public around the shared goal.

The process involves building a portfolio of grants and convening professionals. Along this route, we already identified several blind spots, possible hurdles and dilemmas that we need to tackle. In order to formulate mid-course adaptions, and towards reviewing our work in a meeting with experts in March 2021 (the former Advisory Council), we are proposing to collect data and commission several studies.

The suggested studies include:

1. PISA and dominant approaches to teaching mathematics in Israel. Is the new mathematics curriculum for middle schools in line with the PISA framework? How do the academic approaches to teaching mathematics (e.g. modeling, noticing, inquiry-based, problem solving, project-based) correlate with PISA? The study will conduct a comparative analysis with an emphasis on high-level mathematical thinking and the 5-6 levels of PISA.
2. PISA assignments in the curriculum of the top 15 countries. High performing education systems have reviewed their mathematics curriculum more than ten years ago, and adapted the textbooks and learning materials to the PISA standards accordingly. The study will collect such assignments from Singapore, Canada and the Netherlands, with a focus on the 5-6 levels.
3. How to teach by using complex and applied assignments. The study will ask 10 mathematics teachers in ninth grade excellence classes to tryout three assignments of the 5-6 levels of PISA. They will provide feedback on the lesson planning, the teaching process and the learning of their students.
4. The second excellence class. Several cities across Israel have independently opened second excellence classes in their middle schools. The study will investigate successful implementation strategies, the professional and organizational capacity that is involved, and the lessons learned.
5. High-tech and PISA. What do the high-tech sector and the elite technology units of IDF seek when they select their candidates? The study will explore the resemblance and difference between the complex problems that are given to potential employees and soldiers, and the applied mathematical assignments of PISA.

Each study will be commissioned to a researcher, an expert or a professional organization, which will execute the study and prepare a report by January 2021. Final reports will be published on the foundation’s website and disseminated to the public and among our partners.

* The text presented above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation Board / Grant 383