Pearson Foundation Releases Global Video Series

Pearson Foundation has released a series of videos in cooperation with OECD. You can view those videos here, and below read the press release:
Washington DC. — In conjunction with the release of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results today, the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD) and the Pearson Foundation announced a new series of investigative films that document successful education initiatives currently improving student learning in classrooms around the world. “Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education” profiles local policies and programs that local education leaders credit with improving student achievement—success documented by their country’s strong performance in the latest PISA assessment. Each story of educational innovation presents concrete solutions that have helped a high-quality education system teach the skills its students need to succeed in an increasingly global, inter-connected economy.
Screening of two of the four initial films from the “Strong Performers and Successful Reformers in Education” series took place this morning in advance of formal release of the PISA results. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to announce the standing of U.S. students in reading, math and science literacy compared to other countries around the world. The event was part of the “Education for Innovation” live digital town hall meeting held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.
Each “Strong Performers and Successful Reformers” video is introduced by Andreas Schleicher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division at the OECD’s Directorate for Education, and presents a specific ambition that has recently had direct impact on a country’s continued strong performance or improvement in PISA. The first set of films provides an in-depth look at innovative collaborations among education officials, teachers, and students in Shanghai, China; Ontario, Canada; Poland; and Finland. This collection will be extended as additional country profiles are added to the program’s website throughout 2011. In addition, OECD and the Pearson Foundation will host a series of country-level investigations beginning next year in which education leaders will have the opportunity to share approaches and learn first-hand from the success of their international counterparts.
“The videos provide a fascinating look behind the PISA data, and they document insights into the policies and practices that underpin strong performers and successful reformers in education,” said Schleicher. “Together, they help share methods with the potential to improve student success not just locally, but in classrooms around the world.”
“As OECD’s PISA makes clear, students across the globe are benefiting from innovative, direct approaches to educational change,” said Mark Nieker, President of the Pearson Foundation. “The “Strong Performers and Successful Reformers” video series is one way that educators can learn from—and ideally be in inspired by—the broad range of successful practice making a difference today in global classrooms.”