Carolin Wosch

Educational Performance over Time: 
"Was everything better in the past?!"

Research question:
What is the trend development on mathematics performance of upper secondary school graduates?

For this purpose, the educational performance of Germany's university-track upper secondary school graduates is investigated by equating the First International Mathematics Study (FIMS) of 1964 and the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) of 1996. The approach pursued by Rolfes et al. (2023) is extended by including data of the Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS) administered in the 1980s.

Basic Algebraic Competencies

The need for attaining a basic level of mathematic competencies has been strongly articulated especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, insufficient skills and a decrease in performance of students in Germany are also reflected in educational achievement tests like PISA. Therefore, algebra, as an important subfield of secondary mathematics, and subsequent competencies are examined.

Research questions:

• What can be defined as basic algebraic competencies and how can these competencies be operated?
• To what extent are these basic competencies mastered by students entering upper secondary school and by pre-service teachers at the beginning of their studies?

To evaluate the students' performance, a diagnostic test is developed and validated.