A Study on the Exploratory Learning in Groups Method in Mathematics Education

수학 교과에서의 집단탐구식 수업 방법에 관한 고찰

The 7th Curriculum emphasizes that in mathematics classes, mathematical concepts be understood and mathematical problems be solved through student's own exploratory activities including the use of data, manipulatives, andtechnological devices. Following the main idea of the Seventh Mathematics Curriculum, this paper dealt with instructional methods applied suitably and effectively in mathematics classes, and focused on the 'exploratory learning in groups' method in mathematics education. For this purpose, this paper reviewed and summarized theories related to general pedagogy and of mathematics education. Based on the results, it investigated appropriate instructional methods in mathematics education. In particular, this paper focused on studying the exploratory learning method while investigating its properties and understand- ing the relationship between the 'exploratory learning in groups' method and the discussion-centered method. Finally, in order to show the usefulness of the exploratory learning method, this paper developed an example of a teaching module using the exploratory learning method in addition to discussion and lecture-centered methods by the use of manipulatives. The main goal of the module was to make students understand the principle of multiplication of integers.