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Article
PISA 2003—Mathematical Literacy and Learning in the Americas
Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (2008)
  • John Dossey
  • Sharon McCrone
  • Ross Turner, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
  • Mary Lindquist
Abstract
The article provides an overview of the mathematics assessment program of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments’ (OECD) Program for Student Assessment (PISA). As such, it provides a comparative view of the PISA results for Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It outlines the program, its frameworks, and competencies PISA uses to describe the achievement of 15-year-olds in over 40 countries participating in the PISA assessments. Particular attention is given to the PISA conception of mathematical literacy and cross-disciplinary problem-solving. These two areas were a focus of the 2003 assessment. In addition to a discussion of general results, two sample problems are presented, one from the mathematical literacy and one from cross-disciplinary problem-solving, along with detailed information about student performances in the items. The article concludes with a consideration of the lessons to be learned from the PISA study relative to the teaching and learning of mathematics.
Keywords
  • Canada,
  • Mexico,
  • United States,
  • Mathematics achievement,
  • PISA,
  • Mathematical literacy,
  • Problem solving,
  • Mathematics teaching
Publication Date
2008
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/14926150802169289
Citation Information
Dossey, J., McCrone, S., Turner, R., & Lindquist, M. (2008). PISA 2003—Mathematical literacy and learning in the Americas. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 8(2), 140–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/14926150802169289