A Comparative Study on the Curriculum of Biology in High School of Korea and the United States

한국과 미국의 고등학교 생물과 교육과청에 대한 비교 연구

The purpose of this study is to make a comparative analysis of the educational bojective, organization, contents, teaching and evaluation of the biological curriculum in high school of Korea and the United States. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In case of the educational objectives, both Korea and the United States emphasize the importance of the process of inquiry, experimentation and observation. Particularily, great emphasis is placed upon the human centered curriculum by reinforcing the relationships between the nature and human being. 2. In regard to the educational organization, eleven credit units(Science I: 5 credits, Biology: 6 credits) is allocated in Korea, and ten credit unit, in the United States. Both of Korea and United Stats designate the biology as elective course. But the science I course is designated as required in Korea 3. This study have been analyzed the educational contents of the two countries within the framwork of the basic concepts and essential informations contained in the curriculum. Results of the analysis as follow: The educational contents have less quantity and lower level in Korea than in the United States. And interrelations among the other curricula are not well considered in the curriculum of Korea/ On the other hands, interrelations among the oter curricula are fully considered and the purpose for emphasizing the importance of the process of inquiry course is well considered in the United States. The themes are stressed on "Structure and Function" (34.5%), "Genetic continuty" (21.3%), "Diversity and Unit" (14.2%) and "Regulation and Homeostasis" (10.3%) in Korea, and in the United States "Structure and Function" (27.3%), "Diversity and Unity" (25.6%), "Genetic continuty" (17.9%) and "Organism and Environment" (9.3%). 4. Regarding the educational guidance, both of Korea and the United States emphasis the interrelation of the basic concepts and principles within the total framwork. Also observation and experimentation, safety education, interest of students, life dignity, pretection of nature, social biology are reguired being paid special attentions. 5. In case of evaluation, both of Korea and the United States are the same in all of methods of evaluation. But the United States is grest stressed on reading and writing.