Innovations Make Schools Top

HISTORY


1998/99:

  • Analysis of reasons for the poor performance in TIMSS 1995 – Upper Secondary

Since 2000:

  •  Support system for mathematics and science teachers (action research projects by teachers, professional development, funded collaboration and exchange in regional networks, support for establishing regional and national competence centres, etc.). The orginal project title of IMST was "Innovations in Mathematics and Science Teaching”, however, during the process other subjects like Information Technology  and German language were integrated. IMST started as an Upper Secondary initiative, now all grades are included.

 

TWO STRANDS


1) Teacher Fund

 

Supporting teachers doing small-scale action research projects (one-two years) in five (ev. six) topical areas

 

Topical areas (2010-2012)

  • Assessment culture
  • Competences
  • E-learning
  • Gender sensitivity (if extra funded)
  • Laboratory work
  • Literacy (German language competence)

Reached (so far)
About 400 different schools (100 projects a year, 250 teachers a year, about 5500 students affected/year)

 

Activities

  • 2 workshops for teachers a year (project planning, writing workshop)
  • Consulting (school visits, phone, email)
  • Evaluations by teachers and the project team (teacher and student questionnaires)
  • Meetings of the consultants

2) Regional Networks

 

Regional networks are autonomous regional entities lead by local steering committees. They offer workshops, talks, support etc. in their region as requested by the teachers in that region.
IMST offers financial support (doubling the amount raised locally)  for all regional networks.
IMST was crucial to instigate the formation of the networks (formulating a vision, bringing the people together etc.)

Reached (so far)
9 regional networks
3 topical networks
4 district networks
About 6000 visitors to various workshops, lectures etc. / year in all

 

Activities:

  • Guidance and sets of national meetings
    (2 each year) for all regional networks.
  • Evaluations by teachers and the project team
    (teacher and stakeholder interviews)

PUBLICATIONS


Last English publications:

Krainer, K. (2008). Innovations in Mathematics, Science and Technology Teaching. In J. Vincent, J. Dowsey & R. Pierce (Eds.), Connected Maths. MAV Annual Conference 2008 (pp. 199-212). Brunswick, Vic: The Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV).

Krainer, K. & Müller, R. (2010). IMST. In Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture (Ed.), Austrian Education News (pp. 1-4): BMUKK. [http://www.bmukk.gv.at/medienpool/19219/aen_10_01_61.pdf]