EDUCATION MATTERS
BUILDING ON PAST TIMSS CYCLES The focus on environmental awareness in TIMSS has evolved over time. In TIMSS 2019, a first successful attempt was made to collect data on students’ environmental awareness. TIMSS 2023 marked an important stepping stone, introducing an increased focus on the domain and a first inclusion of environmental awareness in a supplemental framework addressing environmental attitudes and behaviors. This framework, along with a suite of new interactive science items, enabled the assessment to extend what we know about students’ attitudes toward the natural environment and engagement in environmentally responsible behaviors and provide valuable insights into students’ understanding of environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity, and conservation. The extended coverage of environmental awareness provided by the TIMSS 2023 assessment confirmed the value of this domain for stakeholders. The TIMSS Insights: Environmental Awareness thematic report documented wide variation across countries in students’ knowledge of environmental systems, their concern about issues such as pollution and climate change, and their everyday behaviors, including recycling and conserving energy. Notably, the report showed that students with higher environmental awareness also tended to report more responsible environmental behavior, highlighting the importance of measuring both cognitive and affective dimensions of environmental literacy. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTENT IN THE TIMSS 2027 FRAMEWORKS Building on these developments, TIMSS 2027 fully integrates environmental content within its updated science framework. Environmental topics are now embedded across key science content areas, including biology, earth science, and chemistry. The framework emphasizes not only students’ conceptual knowledge, but also their ability to apply scientific understanding in real-world contexts related to sustainability. Equally important, TIMSS 2027 continues to assess students’ attitudes toward the environment— recognizing that cultivating responsible environmental values is as essential as fostering scientific knowledge.
These priorities align closely with developments in national curricula across many TIMSS countries. Environmental education is increasingly being introduced at earlier grade levels and emphasized as a core cross- disciplinary theme. TIMSS 2027 supports the monitoring of these efforts by providing internationally comparable data that reflect how environmental topics are addressed within science education. In addition to achievement data, TIMSS 2027 provides an expanded system for collecting contextual information about students’ learning environments. Updated questionnaires for students, teachers, parents, and school principals capture a broad range of influences on environmental learning. These include the frequency of environmental topics discussed in school, the level of student engagement with environmental content at home, and the values and expectations conveyed by teachers and school leadership. The upcoming TIMSS 2027 Encyclopedia will further support this analysis by documenting national policies and curriculum standards related to environmental education, teacher preparation, and science instruction. RELEVANCE FOR POLICY For policymakers, TIMSS 2027 offers a powerful tool for understanding how education systems are preparing students to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. By measuring environmental knowledge, attitudes, and application, TIMSS supports evidence-based decision- making about curriculum reform, teacher development, and instructional strategies. The inclusion of environmental awareness in TIMSS also aligns closely with international priorities such as the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.7, which calls for education to promote sustainable development and global citizenship. As countries work to equip students not only with academic skills but also with the values and understanding needed to act as responsible stewards of the environment, TIMSS 2027 provides essential data to guide these efforts.
11
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting