Searching for the Directions of Open Mathematics Education

열린수학교육의 방향 탐색

This study aims to reflect the origin and the meaning of open education and to derive pedagogical principles for open mathematics education. Open education originates from Socrates who was the founder of discovery learning and has been developed by Locke, Rousseau, Froebel, Montessori, Dewey, Piaget, and so on. Thus open education is based on Humanism and Piaget's psychology. The aim of open education consists in developing potentials of children. The characteristics of open education can be summarized as follows: open curriculum, individualized instruction, diverse group organization and various instruction models, rich educational environment, and cooperative interaction based on open human relations. After considering the aims and the characteristics of open education, this study tries to suggest the aims and the directions for open mathematics education according to the philosophy of open education. The aim of open mathematics education is to develop mathematical potentials of children and to foster their mathematical appreciative view. In order to realize the aim, this study suggests five pedagogical principles. Firstly, the mathematical knowledge of children should be integrated by structurizing. Secondly, exploration activities for all kinds of real and concrete situations should be starting points of mathematics learning for the children. Thirdly, open-ended problem approach can facilitate children's diverse ways of thinking. Fourthly, the mathematics educators should emphasize the social interaction through small-group cooperation. Finally, rich educational environment should be provided by offering concrete and diverse material. In order to make open mathematics education effective, some considerations are required in terms of open mathematics curriculum, integrated construction of textbooks, autonomy of teachers and inquiry into children's mathematical capability.