Preliminary Material / Erkki Pehkonen , Maija Ahtee and Jari Lavonen -- Introduction / Erkki Pehlwnen , Maija Ahtee and Jari Lavonen -- Finnish Students' Mathematics and Science Results in Recent International Assessment Studies: PISA and TIMSS / Pekka Kupari , Pasi Reinikainen and Jukka Tornroos -- Mathematics and science in Finnish comprehensive school / Jarkko Lampiselkii , Maija Ahtee , Erkki Pehkonen , Matti Meri and Varpu Eloranta -- Pre-service teacher education in chemistry, mathematics and physics / Jari Lavonen , Heidi Krzywacki-Vainio , Maija Aksela , Leena Krolfors , Juha Oiklwnen and Heimo Saarikko -- Learning environments in mathematics and science / Piiivi Perkkilii and Pirjo-Liisa Lehtelii -- Gender issues in Finnish mathematics and physics education / Markku S. Hannula , Kalle Juuti and Maija Ahtee -- Influential factors outside of school / Maija Ahtee , Jari Lavonen , Pentti Parviainen and Erkki Pehkonen -- Synthesis of part I / Yrjo Yrjonsuuri -- Problem solving as a teaching method in mathematics education / Erkki Pehlwnen , Markku S. Hannula and Ole Bjorkqvist -- Mathematics education in primary teacher program / Anu Laine and Raimo Kaasila -- Some alternative teaching methods in mathematics / Erkki Pehlwnen and Maarit Rossi -- Mathematics teaching in primary schools / Leila Pehkonen and Heidi Krzywacki-Vainio -- Technology enriched mathematics education / Lenni Haapasalo and Harry Silfaerberg -- Synthesis of part II / Jarkko Leino and Fulvia Furinghetti -- Teaching methods in science / Jarkko Lampiselkä , Antti Savinainen and Jouni Viiri -- Context-based approach in teaching science and technology / Ossi Autio , Taina Kaivola and Jari Lavonen -- Implementation of teaching methods in school science / Heikki Saari and Kari Sormunen -- Teaching and learning science in primary school / Sari Havu-Nuutinen and Maija Ahtee -- Information and communication technology in school science in Finland / Veijo Meisalo , Jari Lavonen , Kalle Juuti and Maija Aksela -- Synthesis of part III / Onno de Jong -- The evaluation of the Finnish success story / Maija Ahtee , Erkki Pehkonen and Jari Lavonen -- Brief bibliographical notes of the authors / Erkki Pehkonen , Maija Ahtee and Jari Lavonen -- Making Connections / Erkki Pehkonen , Maija Ahtee and Jari Lavonen.

The Finnish students’success in the first PISA 2000 evaluation was a surprise to most of the Finns, and even people working in teacher education and educational administration had difficulties to believe that this situation would continue. Finland’s second success in the next PISA 2003 comparison has been very pleasing for teachers and teacher educators, and for education policymakers. The good results on the second time waked us to think seriously on possible reasons for the success. Several international journalists and expert delegations from different countries have asked these reasons while visiting in Finland. Since we had no commonly acceptable explanation to students’success, we decided at the University of Helsinki to put together a book “How Finns Learn Mathematics and Science?”, in order to give a commonly acceptable explanation to our students’success in the international PISA evaluations. The book tries to explain the Finnish teacher education and school system as well as Finnish children’s learning environment at the level of the comprehensive school, and thus give explanations for the Finnish PISA success. The book is a joint enterprise of Finnish teacher educators. The explanations for success given by altogether 40 authors can be classified into three groups: Teacher and teacher education, school and curriculum, and other factors, like the use of ICT and a developmental project LUMA. The main result is that there is not one clear explanation, although research-based teacher education seems to have some influence. But the true explanation may be a combination of several factors.

Description based on print version record.