Research project The Boost for Mathematics is an in-service training programme for all teachers in Sweden who teach mathematics, and is being implemented over the three-year period 2013-2016. The aim is to develop the quality of mathematics teaching and thereby increase pupils' achievement.
First, the aim is to develop a teaching culture, where the focus is on students' learning, and second, the goal is to develop a culture of professional development, where the focus is on teachers' own learning. The aim is also that these cultures will persist and continue to develop at schools after the implementation of the national program. The evaluation will examine to what extent the professional development program has reached the goal of developing these two cultures for mathematics education in Sweden.
The Swedish National Agency for Education, 2014-2016: SEK 6,270,000
The Boost for Mathematics is an in-service training programme for all teachers in Sweden who teach mathematics, and is being implemented over the three-year period 2013-2016. The Boost for Mathematics has two overall objectives, which can be said to encompass all possible sub-objectives. Firstly, the aim is to develop a teaching culture that focuses on student learning, and secondly, the aim is to develop a professional development culture that focuses on teachers' own learning. The intention is also that these cultures will persist and continue to develop in the schools after the implementation of The Boost for Mathematics.
This evaluation of The Boost for Mathematics aims to answer three overarching questions:
(1) To what extent has The Boost for Mathematics contributed to the development of a sustainable teaching culture?
(2) To what extent has The Boost for Mathematics contributed to the development of a sustainable continuing education culture?
(3) What factors have influenced the extent to which The Boost for Mathematics has contributed to the development of sustainable teaching and learning cultures?
The evaluation visits 40 schools across Sweden. During the visits, interviews are conducted with 2-3 teachers at each school, with the school principal, and with representatives of the school principal. In addition, observations are done of mathematics teaching and of the collegial dialogues that are a central part of the structure of The Boost for Mathematics.
Österholm, M., Bergqvist, T., Liljekvist, Y. & van Bommel, J. (2024) Professional development at national scale: Effects on teacher knowledge and practice. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 83, 101381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2024.101381
Österholm, M., Bergqvist, T., Liljekvist, Y., & van Bommel, J. (2021) The Boost for Mathematics Evaluation Report (Working papers in mathematics education 2021:1). Karlstad University, Sweden. http://kau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1609405/FULLTEXT01.pdf
