Title: Some Characteristics in Korean National Curriculum and its Revising Process
1Some Characteristics in Korean National
Curriculum and its Revising Process
- Hee-chan Lew
- Korea National University of Education
- hclew_at_knue.ac.kr
2Topics
- 7th National Curriculum
- Nature, Structure, Contents, Guide line for
instruction and evaluation, College Entrance
Examination (CSAT) - Revising Process
- Revision Period, Revising Team, Influencing
factors in determining mathematics curriculum - Social Background of Korea
- Some lessons from TIMSS report
3Social Background Parents Concern on Education
- Education The most important factor to
understand Korean Society. - Korean parents are willing to submit themselves
to their childrens education. - KEDI(2004) in 2000
- Governments expense for public education is 30
billion US - Parents expense for out-of-school programs 37
billion US (10 of their total income)
4Out-of-School Programs
- Status of out-of-school program in society
- 84.1 of students (Elementary 91.1, Junior High
81.5, Senior High 70.2) go to extracurricular
programs - Their children must study harder than other
students to enter better universities - A better university is a shortcut to a better
future - Competition-Oriented Society
- Old tradition
5Examination Tradition
- In 958 AD, Koryeo Kingdom (918-1392) accepted
from China the formal examination system to
select government officials, which was kept even
during the next Chosun Kingdom (1392-1910) for
950 years. - Pass to the examination was the most honorable
event of the person and his family
6Education was our only hope
- The Poster of the Special Exhibition of
Educational Materials for the 60th Anniversary of
the restoration of independence 1945-2005 - Education was our only hope is a pregnant
one-sentence to represent the 60 years of Korean
Society
7What is learned in out-of-school program?
Techniques vs. Abilities
- 70-90 of students study mathematics 1-2 hours
almost every day at their out-of-school programs - They learn technical skills and knowledge for
eventually preparing for the college entrance
examination rather than cultivating mathematical
abilities - They learn techniques to select correct answers
in various objective tests.
8International Test
- We worry that this kind of out-of-school studies
seems to be one of the main reasons of Korean
students high achievement in TIMSS, TIMSS-R and
PISA - Other presumed reasons
- Korean teachers teach systematically
- Korean math curriculum favors TIMSS
- Korea Scholastic Ability Test is similar to PISA
- Students study hard in their schools to enter
better universities or for other purposes - etc.
9Math Education after TIMSS
- There were many changes after TIMSS
- 7th National Curriculum issued on December 1997
- Focusing on students problem solving abilities
- School Reform Movement in the late of 1990s
- Open Education
- Performance Assessment
- Computer use in classroom
10Three factors for change
- Gradual change in mathematics education since
1980 to support the economic development of 1970s
and 1980s - From theoretical mathematics to practical
mathematics - TIMSS report
- Reflection on the weak points of math classes
- Impact of foreign curricula such as of USA
Great Britain
11TIMSS report
- TIMSS provided an opportunity for Korean Society
to reflect on the educational environment on the
whole through a multivariate analysis with
teachers, institutions as well as students. - Korean mathematics education seems to have many
serious weak points, despite of students' very
proud achievement.
12Affective CharacteristicsLesson from TIMSS
Report
- Korean students' affective characteristics was
not friendly to mathematics compared with other
countries. - In the case of the 8th grade, Korea was one of
the lowest countries in the confidence and
interest levels. - This result is also being repeated in the current
PISA test.
13Achievement DifferenceLesson from TIMSS Report
- There is a significant difference in the
achievement level between male and female, and
city and rural area - A serious problem with respect to an equal
opportunity in mathematics education. - Traditional custom guides girls not to go to the
mathematical fields. - Generally rural area, compared with city area,
has an educationally inferior environment.
14Teaching StyleLesson from TIMSS Report
- Whole class activities under teachers' control is
the first consideration in the style of
organizing classes - 89 of students, the largest rate, thought that
whole class lesson with teachers explanation is
the most frequent style. - Only 11, the lowest rate, of students thought
that activities worked in pairs or small groups
with assistance from teachers is the most
frequent style.
15TechnologyLesson from TIMSS Report
- Korean math teachers were the most negative in
using computer and calculator in their classes
and problem solving process - 93 of teachers and 96 of students never used
computers and calculators in their math classes,
which was the highest among TIMSS countries
16Goals for learning mathematicsLesson from TIMSS
Report
- Many math teachers do not consider mathematical
application and reasoning ability as important
goals for students. - Korea belongs to countries whose rate was very
low. - Teachers seem not to understand well the reason
why problem solving should be emphasized in
mathematics education
17Evaluation MethodLesson from TIMSS Report
- Critics have been proposed that the objective
items might give a better chance for Korean
students to get higher scores than other nations
students because Korean students were familiar
with an objective test.
18The 7th curriculum
- Issued in Dec 31 1997 to reflect
- Reform movement of mathematics education
throughout the world, particularly of USA - Reconsideration of learning methods and contents
school mathematics has emphasized for a long
time - Lessons from TIMSS report
- National goals for the construction of an
advanced civilized society - Individual differences in abilities, needs, and
interests of students
19Nature practical mathematics
- The new curriculum emphasizes practical
mathematics such as - problem solving
- application and modeling of mathematics
- reasoning
- It contrasts sharply with the 3rd curriculum
issued in 1973 which emphasized mathematical
knowledge as theoretical aspect
20Gradual change since 1980
- The change has been done gradually since the 4th
curriculum issued in 1980 - 4th problem solving
- 5th problem solving
- 6th problem solving, technology
- 7th problem solving, reasoning, communication,
technology, connection, modeling - The influence of USA for Korean mathematics
curriculum
21Old Kingdom Period
- Korea has a long history of emphasizing
theoretical mathematics for a selective
examination - In 958, the "Koryeo" Kingdom (918-1392)
introduced mathematics into its examination
system to select middle level technical
government officials. - They have to memorize many Chinese mathematical
classics including Nine Chapters on Mathematical
Art for 7-9 years in schools.
221st Curriculum
- 1st curriculum issued in 1955 professed to
emphasize practical problem solving in real life
under the influence of the American pragmatism
and Dewey's educational philosophy. - However, real situation was different because
most of textbook authors were pure mathematicians
and the college entrance examination were not
practically oriented .
232nd 3rd Curriculum
- 2nd curriculum (1963) emphasized more formal and
systematical mathematics. - 3rd curriculum (1973) accepted the new
mathematics movement totally, emphasizing set
language, mathematical structures and logical
rigorousness - The theoretical mathematics reached to the
highest points.
24History of Korean Curriculum
25Instruction under 7th curriculum
- The 7th curriculum emphasizes various types of
instruction to improve efficiency and
significance of students' mathematical learning. - It recommends that students should be able to
experience the joy of discovery and maintain
their interest in mathematics in their classrooms
26Evaluation under 7th curriculum
- Mathematical power should be evaluated by the
following methods in their classrooms - to focus on students' understanding of a problem
and the problem-solving process as well as its
results - to focus on student's abilities to think and
solve problems in a flexible, diverse and
creative fashion
27Schooling system Students number
- Korea has 6-3-3-4 educational system
- Elementary 6 years, Junior High 3 years, Senior
High 3 years, College 4 years - We have about 400,000 students in each grade
- Almost 100 students graduate Senior High
schools - At 11 grade, they choose one of the Liberal Arts
track or Science track - The ratio of students of Liberal Arts track and
Science track is 21
28Structure
- The 7th curriculum have two parts
- The compulsory core curriculum learned in the
first 10 school years called people common
educational period - The elective curriculum learned in 11 and 12
grades by choosing some among 6 subjects such as
- Real-World Math, Math I, Math II, Calculus,
Statistics and Probability, and Discrete Math
29Structure
- The compulsory core curriculum is to teach same
contents to all students - The elective curriculum has two kinds of
selective subject - General-selective a subject to strengthen
cultural literacy and connection to real world - Real-World Mathematics
- Deep-selective 5 subjects related with college
entrance examination - Math I, Math II, Calculus, Statistics and
Probability, and Discrete Math
30Structure of the 7th Curriculum
School Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High Junior High Junior High Junior High Senior High Senior High Senior High Senior High
Grade 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 12
Level 1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11 12
Curri Name Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Selective Curriculum Selective Curriculum
Subject Name Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics (general-selective) Real World Math (general-selective) Real World Math
Subject Name Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics (deep selective) Math I, Math II, Calculus, Probability Statistic, Discrete Mathematics (deep selective) Math I, Math II, Calculus, Probability Statistic, Discrete Mathematics
31Level Promotion
- The compulsory core curriculum has 20 levels.
Students are promoted by a level-transfer test
administered by schools at the end of semester. - This system converts from the laissez-fair policy
which guarantees automatic promotion to the
controlling policy. - Students who fail the level transfer test by
scoring below 60 must take the extra- course
offered by schools during the vacation of the
semester.
32Enrichment and Supplement Program
- To avoid unnecessary competition and a sense of
incongruity among students and parents, skipping
levels is not permitted - For advanced students and low achievers, special
enrichment and supplementary sections will be
provided during the course at the teacher's
discretion.
33Time Allotment
- Time allotted to Mathematics of 1-10 grades is
131 class hours in average per year. - It is the largest amount of time allotment second
only to Korean, of which time allotment is 188
hours in average per year. - In Grades 11 12, the time allotment depends on
the kinds of students track for College Entrance
ExaminationScience and Liberal art
34Time Allotment
School Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High Senior High Senior High Senior High
Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Curri Name Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Compulsory Core Curriculum Selective Curriculum Selective Curriculum
Class hours Per year 120 136 136 136 136 136 136 136 102 136 Liberal Arts 102 Science 272 Liberal Arts 102 Science272
Class hours per week 3-4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 Liberal Arts 3 Science 8 Liberal Arts 3 Science 4
1 class hour of Elementary, Junior High and
Senior High is 40, 45, 50 minutes respectively
1 year is 34 weeks
35Contents of Grades 1-10
- The Compulsory mathematics curriculum consists of
the six strands - Number Operation, Geometry, Measuring,
Probability Statistics, Letter Expression,
and Pattern Function - Unlike USA, Korea does not distinguish content
strand and process strand. - Only exception is problem solving but, it is in
Letters and Expression strand.
36Class Hours classified by Strands
Strand Class hours Ratio
Number and Operation 448 34.2
Geometry 290 22.1
Measuring 158 12.1
Probability and Statistics 98 7.5
Letter and Expression 197 15.0
Pattern and Function 119 9.1
Total 1310 100
37Class Hours classified by Strands and Grades
Strands 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number Operation 74 62 63 46 80 58 63 46 59 44 32 24 34 25 9 7 13 13 21 15
Geometry 13 11 22 16 25 18 35 26 32 24 26 19 34 25 48 35 30 29 25 18
Measuring 14 11 24 17 15 11 17 12 20 14 23 17 18 13 8 6 11 11 8 6
Probability Statistics 6 5 7 5 8 6 10 7 9 6 18 13 13 10 14 10 7 7 6 4
Letter Expression 9 8 17 12 6 4 8 6 12 9 14 10 22 16 39 28 27 27 43 31
Pattern Function 4 3 3 2 2 1 3 2 4 3 23 17 15 11 18 13 14 14 33 24
Sum 120 100 136 100 136 100 136 100 136 100 136 100 136 100 136 100 102 100 136 100
38Number and Operation Class hours classified by
big ideas and grades
Big Ideas Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High S. H. Total
Big Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Natural Number 74 62 63 46 70 51 27 20 17 13 18 13 269 20.5
Fraction Decimal Fraction 10 7 36 26 42 31 32 24 120 9.2
Integer Rational Number 16 12 9 7 25 1.9
Real Complex Number 13 13 21 15 34 2.6
Sum 74 62 63 46 80 58 63 46 59 44 32 24 34 25 9 7 13 13 21 15 448 34.2
- Class Hours per year 1310 (1st grade, 102 9th
grade, 120 others, 136)
39Geometry Class hours classified by big ideas and
grades
Big Ideas Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High S. H. Total
Big Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Spatial Sense 13 11 16 12 11 8 2 1 4 3 8 6 13 10 67 5.1
Properties of Figures 6 4 14 10 33 24 28 19 18 13 21 15 24 18 144 11.0
Deductive Proof 24 17 30 29 54 4.1
Coordinate Geometry 25 18 25 1.9
Sum 13 11 22 16 25 18 35 26 32 23 26 19 34 25 48 35 30 29 25 18 290 22.1
- Class Hours per year 1310 (1st grade, 102 9th
grade, 120 others, 136)
40Measuring Class hours classified by big ideas
and grades
Big Ideas Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High S. H. Total
Big Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Measuring with Units 6 4 22 16 13 10 10 7 20 14 17 13 18 13 106 8.1
Quantity Sense and Estimation 8 7 2 1 2 1 7 5 6 4 8 6 33 2.5
Trigonometric Ratio 11 11 11 0.8
Linear Programming 8 6 8 0.6
Sum 14 11 24 17 15 11 17 12 20 14 23 17 18 13 8 6 11 11 8 6 158 12.1
- Class Hours per year 1310 (1st grade, 102 9th
grade, 120 others, 136)
41Probability and Statistics Class hours
classified by big ideas and grades
- Class Hours per year 1310 (1st grade, 102 9th
grade, 120 others, 136)
Big Ideas Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High S. H. Total
Big Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Diagram and Graphs 6 5 7 5 8 6 10 7 6 4 8 6 45 3.4
Probability 10 7 14 10 24 1.8
Basic Statistics 3 2 13 10 7 7 6 4 29 2.2
Sum 6 5 7 5 8 6 10 7 9 6 18 13 13 10 14 10 7 7 6 4 98 7.5
42Letter and ExpressionClass hours classified by
big ideas and grades
Big Ideas Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High S. H. Total
Big Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Making Expression 2 2 10 7 14 10 7 7 17 13 50 3.8
Equation Inequality 7 5 12 9 25 18 13 13 21 15 78 6.0
Factorization 7 7 5 4 12 0.9
Problem Solving Strategy 7 6 10 7 6 4 8 6 12 9 14 10 57 4.4
Sum 9 8 17 12 6 4 8 6 12 9 14 10 22 16 39 28 27 27 43 31 197 15.0
- Class Hours per year 1310 (1st grade, 102 9th
grade, 120 others, 136)
43Pattern and Function Class hours classified by
big ideas and grades
Big Ideas Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Elementary Junior High Junior High Junior High S. H. Total
Big Ideas 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Pattern Finding 4 3 3 2 2 1 3 2 4 3 16 1.2
Ratio Proportion 23 17 6 4 29 2.2
Elementary Function 9 7 18 13 14 14 15 11 56 4.3
Trigonometric Function 18 13 18 1.4
Sum 4 3 3 2 2 1 3 2 4 3 23 17 15 11 18 13 14 14 33 24 119 9.1
- Class Hours per year 1310 (1st grade, 102 9th
grade, 120 others, 136)
44College Entrance Examination and Mathematics
Curriculum
Area Examination Scope Number of items Total Time Type of problems
Type A (130,000) (100,000) Math? 40 Math? 40 Select 1 among Calculus, Statistics and probability, Discrete math 20 30 items 100 Minutes Choice70, Short Answer30
Type B (270,000) (300,000) Math I 30 items 100 Minutes Choice70, Short Answer30
45Revising Period of Curriculum
- 2nd - 4th curriculum 7-10 years
- 5th - 7th curriculum 5 years
Curriculum 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Revising Date 1955. 8. 1 E, H 1963. 2. 15 E, J, S 1973. 2. 14 E 1973. 8. 31 J 1974 S 1981. 12. 31 E, J, S
Curriculum 5th 6th 7th The newly developed
Revising Date 1987. 3. 31 J 1987. 6. 30 E 1988. 3. 31 S 1992. 6. 30 J 1992. 9. 30 E 1992. 10. 30 S 1997. 12. 30 E, J, S 2005. 12. 30 Grade 1-10 2006. 12. 30 Grade 11-12
46Revising Team
- MOE names one person in a university or a
research institute as the chief of the revising
team and requests the chief to construct the
revising team - 7th one professor of SKK University
- The newly developed The director of Korea
Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) - The chief has an important role in the selection
process of other 6-7 members who are all
professors or researchers
47Activities of the Revising Team
- The team holds a conference to reflect various
opinions from various individual or groups like
academic circles or society and math teachers
union or groups - The team makes questionnaire and interview with
teachers, researchers, parents, students,
administrators to appreciate national or societal
goals and to select contents and their sequence.
48Consulting Team
- The team has the consulting team with teachers
and professors to consult various problems in the
process of revising the curriculum. - Several meetings are held to respond to questions
and some issues raised by the revising team
49Meetings to reflect various opinions
- The mathematics education society invites the
chief of the team to introduce the draft of the
curriculum at the annual meeting of the Society
to provide some feedback to the team. - The team holds seminars on the draft of the
curriculum 5-6 times at the focal universities in
the local areas to reflect some ideas of the
local communities of mathematics education.
50Reviewing Committee
- MOE organizes the reviewing committee with
professors and teachers to review the final draft
corrected by the revising team based on the
various opinions collected from various meetings. - Reviewing Committee invites the revising team in
the reviewing process to discuss or to debate
some key issues.
51Public Hearing
- After finishing the whole reviewing process, the
revising team holds a public hearing to report
the final draft to the public.
52Important Factors in Revising Curriculum
- Analysis of the previous curriculum executed in
classrooms. - Students understanding level
- Logical sequence of contents
- Foreign countries curriculum
- National and social needs
- Request of academic circle
- Relevance of amount of learning
53Conclusion
- This has summarized the change of mathematics
education and the process for the change made in
Korea after TIMSS. - The main focus is on the practical mathematics.
- The national strategy to construct a highly
developed country in the near future. - Practical Mathematics is tool for propelling the
development of science and for solving
quantitative and qualitative problems faced on
people in their lives.
54Conclusion
- More students have to leave school absorbing
mathematics and having confidence. - Until now, school mathematics is considered as
only a subject for college entrance examination. - Many students think continual learning of
mathematics is meaningless and elementary
mathematics is enough. - We have to stop this consideration from now.
55Conclusion
- Korea has a long history of examination oriented
mathematics education. - So, it is very difficult to change this kind of
culture. - But, many Korean mathematics teachers and
educators are trying to re-model math classes
though it is a rugged and very difficult way.