• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-144
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• 2024

This study analyzes how the academic achievement of students in Korea changes as they transition from 4th grade of elementary school to 2nd grade of middle school, considering that the 4th graders in the previous TIMSS cycle become 2nd graders in the next cycle. In particular, this study selects and compares the eight main countries in the TIMSS math evaluation (Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, USA, UK, Australia, and Russia) to analyze the trend of change in academic achievement of Korean students according to school grade transition. The trend of change in academic achievement of students was analyzed not only overall but also by content area (number, geometry and measurement, data representation (data and probability/data and probability), gender, and regional scale. The analysis focused on the average score and the proportion of students by achievement level. The results of the study are as follows. First, there was no significant change in the average score of Korean students' academic achievement as the school grade transitioned, but the achievement gap widened in terms of the proportion by achievement level. Second, there were differences in students' academic achievement by content area according to school grade transition, and the pattern differed depending on the evaluation cycle. Third, there was a significant gap in students' math academic achievement depending on gender and regional scale of school location. This study reveals that the achievement gap among students in our country widens as they transition between school levels. The gap is found to vary in terms of achievement level, math content area, student gender, and school location. To alleviate these disparities, more substantial research and support are proposed in addition to policy implementation by the government or provincial offices of education.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2021

This study investigates the difference in income trajectories of the working poor and the non-working poor and explains the effects of socio-demographic (marriage, education) and regional (living in large cities) factors on intergroup differences. We use Seoul Survey data collected between 2009-2018 and the latent growth modeling approach. It was found that the trajectory difference between groups was statistically significant. Since 2016, the income gap widened as the income of the working poor stagnated. The three variables included in this model better explained the income trajectory of the working poor compared to the working non-poor. In particular, the change in income growth rate was positively related to whether they live in large cities. This suggests the possibility that living in a large city would act as an economic premium for the working poor. It is necessary to conduct follow-up studies on urban premiums for the working poor.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.51-81
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• 2012

This paper empirically investigates the dynamics of the poverty-higher education gap in Korea. Poverty may lead to a gap in access to higher education through two channels: the short-term inability to pay college tuition and fees and long-term disadvantages arising from one's environment that impede the development of academic ability. A regression analysis based on data from the Korean Education and Employment Panel suggests that it is long-term disadvantages that plays a dominant role in the dynamics of this gap. We also replicate a study carried out by Carneiro and Heckman, who have addressed a similar question in the US. Again, the results confirm that the crucial constraint is the long-term accumulation of disadvantages arising mainly from family background, not the short-term constraint. These findings suggest that policies designed to alleviate short-term financial constraints, such as tuition reduction, will be less effective in reducing the gap in accessing four-year college in Korea than policies involving early intervention in children's development.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.15-28
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• 2016

As the industry of Mobile Internet has been gradually developed, the major device for accessing the web is predicted to shift from PC to Mobile devices in the near future. This drastic increase of demand in Mobile devices has drawn a more convenient standard of living by transcending time and space in our lives, however, it triggered various side effects such as a digital divide. This study was conducted to analyze how people utilize the contents via Mobile devices and their active attitude toward Mobile Internet by dividing individual characteristics into generations, education level and income level, and also identify whether Mobile contents utilization has an effect on the active attitude. The research results could be used for establishing a policy to narrow the gap in Mobile contents use and active attitude by individual characteristics.

• The Journal of Sustainable Design and Educational Environment Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.22-37
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• 2018

This study suggests desirable disaster safety education curriculum through analyzing the operational status of the school disaster safety management training course and demand survey of school staff. First, the problem of the disaster safety training course of the school is not connected with the lack of law and system and the school disaster safety job. Second, improvement of law and system and variety of training should be made to acquire professional knowledge. Third, it is necessary to divide curriculum into the following four categories, according to educational needs of public officials ; Educational administration officers course focused on facility safety, maintenance and disaster countermeasure. Educational officials in technical post course addressing approval and permission of school facility projects, seismic reinforcement of school building, etc. Educational supervisors course covering roles and responsibilities of the school safety supervisors in the event of disaster. Teaching staffs course focused on safety instructions for students. Fourth, it is found that lectures and experiential learning methods are the most desirable methods of teaching and learning, and the major ranks are earthquake disaster, fire, gas, typhoon, school road, and electrical safety.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.789-803
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• 2009

We investigated the influences of positive thought about social capital on social participation of the elderly Koreans. The study design was cross-sectional analysis of the National Statistic Office Study of Korean Society Statistics Survey 2003. Participants were total of 8,586 representative samples. Two types of social participation were investigated: meeting attendance and volunteer obligations. The base model included five thoughts about social capital that must be settled as a priority in Korea, i.e., reducing the differences between the rich and the poor, reducing the crime rate, reducing regulations and corruption, improving the moral level, eliminating environmental pollution. Social participation was influenced by positive thoughts about social capital, and different kinds of thoughts had different influences on different types of social participation. The elderly who responded positively to 'reducing the differences between the rich and the poor' attended all two types of social participation more. Along with education and health status, positive thought about social capital is another important factor that influences increased social participation. It may also compensate for deteriorating health with increasing age by promoting social participation. Encouraging social participation is a good way to improve the health of the elderly, as are efforts to change thought about social capital positively.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.66-79
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the effects of the educational context variables on 8th-grade science achievement of 5 top performing countries(Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan) in TIMSS 2015. TIMSS 2015 science data and questionnaire results were used for fitting Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) in this study. According to the results, such student-level variables as home resources for learning, students' interest in science learning, valuing science, Students' Educational Expectations gave significant influence on the science achievement of Korean students. School-level variables including Student Economic Background, and School Emphasis on Academic Success gave significant influence on the science achievement of Korean students. Comparing 5 countries, home resources for learning, students' interest in science learning, Students' Educational Expectations gave significant influence on the science achievement in all 5 countries. At the school level, Student Economic Background is statistically significant in explaining students' science achievement gap in all countries except Japan, and Teaching Limited by Student Needs gave significant influence on the science achievement in all countries except Korea. Discussed in the conclusion are ways to improve middle-school science teaching and learning including reducing the education divide among socioeconomic status, teaching innovation for competency education, inquiry and reinforcement of lab activities in science classes, and so on.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.479-498
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• 2013

As education is one of key factors to improve national competitiveness, quality education becomes a top priority in all countries around the world. In South Korea, The Basic Skills Competency Test is administered annually to select below-basic third graders and provide intervention programs. The Basic Skills Competency Test was designed to diagnose the minimal competency of third graders according to a national-level standards. The purpose of this study was to analyze standard-setting procedures and set cut-off scores. This study offered the empirical evidence that standard-setting is generally applicable in schools by the modified Ebel method. More future researches addressing appropriate and efficient standard-setting methods in real school situations are needed to be taken in.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.173-190
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• 2021

Education for Sustainable Development is an imperative mean to achieve the sustainable development which is the key idea that meets the needs of both present and succeeding generations by reconciling environmental protection, social development and economic growth. This study addressed the following question. First, what is the overall structure of the ESD contents presented in the textbooks? Second, How are the sub-contents of ESD distributed in the textbooks? Lastly, How are the ESD contents connected to mathematics in the textbooks? For this purpose, the contents in the elemtentary mathematics textbooks from 1^st to 6^th grades were analyzed at both macro and micro levels through quantitative and qualitative research methods. As results, contents related to environmental, social, and economic dimensions were presented from the first grade. The contents were involved the mathematics content domains of Numbers and Operations, Data and Possibilities, and Patterns. However, the contents were presented intensively in middle and high grades, and environmental topics accounted for a high proportion. Among the activities related to ESD, many were focused on solving problems mathematically while some were presented to solve problems as well as to consider sustainability through the activities. Based on the results, the study aims to provide implications for the direction of mathematics education for sustainable development in elementary school.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.35-61
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• 2007

This study examines the determinants of employment and wage of new college graduates by using Youth Panel Data(2003-2005) of the Work Information Center, and seeks assignments for mitigating unemployment and wage disparities of new college graduates. Results are summarized as follows. First, an analysis of the determinants of employment shows that the Kyunggi Inchon district in school locations, higher school records, and qualification certificates positively affect the employment rate, while the private college group in the non-capital area negatively affects the employment rate. Second, an analysis of determinants of standard employment demonstrates that the Kyunggi Inchon district in school locations, higher school records, qualification certificates, and the major group of medical science, pharmacy, nursing science and health science, and the major group of education positively affect the employment rate, while the private college group in the non-capital area, the junior college groups in the capital and non-capital areas negatively affect the employment rate. Third, an analysis of determinants of nonstandard employment shows that the junior college graduation in scholarly attainments, the junior college groups in the capital and non-capital areas positively affect the employment rate, while the private college group in the non-capital area negatively affects the employment rate. Fourth, an analysis of the determinants of wages demonstrates that male in sex, the older in ages, the major group of medical science, pharmacy, nursing science and health science, and the major group of education positively affect the wages, while nonstandard employment, Kyunggi Inchon and Cholla districts in school locations negatively affect the wages. These results suggest several implications. First, college education should be reformed to cultivate professional manpower who are required by industries. Second, alternative measures to mitigate sex discrimination in labor markets should be prepared. Third, the process of attaining qualification certificates should be reformed in order that it is actually connected to the abilities of work performances and the improvement of productivity. Fourth, a locally balanced development must be realized through the decentralization of industries. Fifth a systematic and comprehensive program need to be prepared to promote the employment of new college graduates.