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Science Education, the Science Curriculum and PISA 2006 by Jari Lavonen, Svein Lie, Allyson Macdonald, Magnus Oscarsson, Claus Reistrup and Helene Sørensen

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Science Education, the Science Curriculum and PISA 2006 by Jari Lavonen, Svein Lie, Allyson Macdonald, Magnus Oscarsson, Claus Reistrup and Helene Sørensen Northern Lights on PISA 2006 Differences and similarities in the Nordic countries Tomas Matti (Eds.) TemaNord 2009:547 Northern Lights on PISA 2006 Differences and similarities in the Nordic countries TemaNord 2009:547 © Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen 2009 ISBN 978-92-893-1881-5 Print: Scanprint as Cover: Jette Koefoed, Publication Unit Layout: Publication Unit Copies: 2,000 Printed on environmentally friendly paper This publication can be ordered on www.norden.org/order. Other Nordic publications are avail- able at www.norden.org/publications Printed in Denmark Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council Store Strandstræde 18 Store Strandstræde 18 DK-1255 Copenhagen K DK-1255 Copenhagen K Phone (+45) 3396 0200 Phone (+45) 3396 0400 Fax (+45) 3396 0202 Fax (+45) 3311 1870 www.norden.org Nordic co-operation Northern Lights on PISA 2006Nordic cooperation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and three autonomous areas: the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Nordic cooperation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic cooperation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. Content Foreword ...................................................................................................................... 7 1. The Nordic countries by Kristian Ramstedt .................................................................................................... 9 The Nordic area...................................................................................................... 9 Schools in the Nordic area ................................................................................... 17 Concluding comments.......................................................................................... 29 References............................................................................................................ 30 2.1 Science education, the science curriculum and PISA 2006 by Jari Lavonen, Svein Lie, Allyson Macdonald, Magnus Oscarsson, Claus Reistrup and Helene Sørensen ......................................................................... 31 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 31 The education system in Nordic countries ........................................................... 33 Goals and content of science described in national level science curricula.......... 42 Assessment in science education in Nordic countries .......................................... 49 Discussion............................................................................................................ 51 References............................................................................................................ 57 2.2 What do principals and students say about schooling and science education? – Comparing views in Nordic countries by Jarkko Hautamäki, Jorma Kuusela & Sirkku Kupiainen....................................... 59 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 59 School and principal level.................................................................................... 60 Student-level ........................................................................................................ 69 Conclusions.......................................................................................................... 71 References............................................................................................................ 73 3.1 Science Performance: The Nordic Countries from an International Perspective by Marit Kjærnsli and Svein Lie................................................................................ 75 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 75 Scientific literacy in PISA 2006........................................................................... 76 Some main results in the science domain............................................................. 78 Scientific competences and science areas ............................................................ 83 Gender differences in achievement ...................................................................... 86 How different are we?.......................................................................................... 89 Concluding remarks ............................................................................................. 92 References............................................................................................................ 94 3.2 Are Icelandic boys really better on computerised tests? by Almar M. Halldórsson, Pippa McKelvie and Júlíus K. Björnsson......................... 97 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 98 Method............................................................................................................... 100 Moderating factors............................................................................................. 103 Motivation, Enjoyment and Effort ..................................................................... 108 ICT Familiarity .................................................................................................. 110 Results................................................................................................................ 111 Discussion.......................................................................................................... 128 Endnotes ............................................................................................................ 131 Correspondence ................................................................................................. 131 References.......................................................................................................... 131 3.3. Norwegian and Swedish students’ reading engagement in 2000 and 2006 from a gender perspective by Astrid Roe and Karin Taube................................................................................ 133 Introduction........................................................................................................ 133 What has changed in six years? ......................................................................... 137 Summary and conclusions ................................................................................. 153 References.......................................................................................................... 155 4.1. Educational Equity Account in Nordic Countries by Jarkko Hautamäki, Airi Hautamäki & Sirkku Kupiainen .................................... 157 The Educational Equity Account ....................................................................... 157 PISA level and PISA balance............................................................................. 158 The level and balance of the Nordic countries ................................................... 159 Conclusions........................................................................................................ 165 References.......................................................................................................... 166 4.2. The influence from individual social background and school social background in the Nordic countries by Niels Egelund and Flóvin Eidesgaard................................................................. 169 Introduction........................................................................................................ 169 Method and material .......................................................................................... 170 Discussion.......................................................................................................... 174 References.......................................................................................................... 175 4.3. Reading and Socio-Economic Factors: A cross-sectional Nordic study of the 2000, 2003 and 2006 PISA-results by Jarkko Hautamäki & Airi Hautamäki.................................................................. 177 Reading and socio-economic factors.................................................................. 177 Country and school variances in reading ........................................................... 179 HISEI included .................................................................................................. 180 Reading and HISEI by countries in 2000, 2003 and 2006 ................................. 181 HISEI-coefficients as a summative index .......................................................... 183 HISEI coefficients by PISA cycles and by countries ......................................... 184 References.......................................................................................................... 186 Appendix............................................................................................................ 186 5. Summary and comments by Tomas Matti,
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