New Publication Reports on AAAS Project 2061's Evaluation of Middle Grades
Math Texts
April 4, 2000
Details and supporting documentation of its rigorous analysis of middle grades
math textbooks are now available in print and CD-ROM format from Project 2061,
the long-term math and science education reform initiative of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The evaluation rated several
newer mathematics textbooks as excellent teaching tools, while several widely
used texts were rated unsatisfactory.
When the evaluation results were first announced in January 1999, few of the
highly rated textbooks were found in classrooms. Since then, however, textbook
adoption committees in states and school districts around the country have
used the evaluation data to make more informed decisions.
Middle Grades Mathematics Textbooks: A Benchmarks-Based Evaluation
can be ordered from AAAS by calling 1-800-222-7809 or visiting http://www.project2061.org.
The price is $89 (includes book and CD-ROM; $71 for orders of 10 or more copies).
The publication contains an overall comparison of the textbooks analyzed,
an overview of how and why the analysis was conducted, a description of Project
2061's analysis procedure and the cognitive research behind it, and summary
reports on each text. The accompanying CD-ROM contains all the evaluation
data and allows educators to delve deeper into the analysis findings and compare
sets of data side-by-side.
"Project 2061 is publishing this detailed report to advance efforts to
improve the textbooks used by our students," said Project 2061 director
George D. Nelson. "By understanding what should be included in an effective
textbook, educators and parents can create demand for only the best quality
texts."
This was the first in a series of evaluations of mathematics and science textbooks
to be conducted by Project 2061. It was followed in September 1999 by the
release of an evaluation of middle grades science textbooks, which rated both
older and new texts unsatisfactory, concluding that most textbooks cover too
many topics and don't develop any of them well.
Project 2061 will release the findings of its evaluation of high school algebra
and biology texts later this year.
The benchmarks-based approach to evaluation was developed with funding from
the National Science Foundation. Funding for the middle grades mathematics
textbook evaluation was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
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Contact
Information:
Mary
Koppal
(202) 326-6643
