• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.367-385
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• 2004

This study intends to compare the way of introducing fractions in elementary mathematics textbooks of south and those of north Korea. After thorough investigations of the seven differences were identified. First, the mathematics textbooks of south Korea use concrete materials like apples when they introduce equal partition context, while those of north Korea do not use that kind of concrete materials. Second, in the textbooks of south Korea, equal partition of discrete quantities are considered after continuous ones are introduced. This is different from the approach of the north Korean text-books in which both quantities are regarded at the same time. Third, the quantitative fraction which refers to the rational number with unit of measure at the end of it, is hardly used in the textbooks of south. However, the textbooks of north Korea use it as the main representations of fractions. Fourth, in the textbooks of south Korea, vanous activities related to fractions are more emphasized, while in the textbooks of north Korea, various meanings of fractions textbooks from south and north Korea focused on the ways of introducing partition approach and equivalence relation as operational schemes of fractions, the following play an important role before defining fraction. Fifth, the textbooks of south Korea introduce equivalent fractions with number one using number bar, and do not consider the reason why that sort of fractions are regarded. On the contrary, the textbooks of north Korea introduce structural equivalence relation by using various contexts including length measure and volume measure situations. Sixth, whereas real-life contexts are provided for introducing equivalent fractions in the textbooks of south Korea, visual explanations and mathematical representations play an important role in the textbooks of north Korea. Seventh, the means of finding equivalent fractions are provided directly in the textbooks of south Korea, whereas the nature of equivalent fractions and the methods of making equivalent fractions are considered in the textbooks of north Korea.

• School Mathematics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2003

This study intends to compare the structure of contents and the way of developing concepts in mathematics textbooks of south and those of north Korea. After thorough investigations of the textbooks from south and north Korea, the following three characteristics were identified. First, the mathematics textbooks of south Korea tends to spread out contents across several grades, while those of north Korea have a tendency of centralization in terms of locating contents Second, in the textbooks of South Korea, mathematics concepts are permeated through real world situations, and students gradually acquire those concepts mostly through activities. This is different from the approach of the north Korean textbooks in which various problems play a key role in explaining concepts. Third, the main strategy of introducing contents in the textbooks of south and that of north Korea corresponds to 'guidance' and 'explanation' respectively. Exploratory questions leading to the concepts are more emphasized in the textbooks of south Korea, on the other hand, meaningful explanations play an important role in the textbooks of north Korea.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-80
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• 2007

Korea and Japan are close countries having a mutual influence on history and have similar cultural and educational circumstances. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the textbooks for elementary school mathematics between Korea and Japan. First, it established the theoretical backgrounds through the precedent research comparing the mathematic textbooks between South Korea and North Korea, Korea and India, Yanbian in China, Japan( Fraction part in numeral field. The Plane Figures). Next, it compared and analyzed two countries'(Korea and Japan) textbooks regarding the structural system and concept of units on the basis of the theoretical research. And it included more specific and detail contents in comparison of Korean with Japanese mathematic textbooks focused on the 5, 6th grade.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.197-215
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• 2016

As the number of dislocated North Korean students is increasing, the need and interest in supporting their learning are higher. We interviewed two dislocated female North Korean students who had studied middle school mathematics in North Hamgyeong Province and finished high school in South Korea. Two participants compared their student experiences of mathematics lessons in North Korea to mathematics lessons in South Korea. There exist differences but also similarities between mathematics lessons in South and North Korea. On Based on these interviews, we discuss some implication of two students' experiences on mathematics lessons and examinations.

• School Mathematics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-160
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• 2006

It seems that North Korea has been trying to reorganize its educational system as well as its economic system on a large scale since July 1, 2002. There has been a decrease in quantity of math textbooks by about 30% decrease. Until the 1990's, geometry and algebra had been kept apart from each other in North Korea, but they are put together now. Moreover many changes have been made in both contents and methods of teaching. For example, an area model is used in North Korea to teach operation of fraction, which makes the learning period shorter. This idea will provide us with many implication when we need to ready for decreasing the quantities in the future. Moreover teaching methods of division algorithms need to be reconsidered since the visual algorithm of division could help save the thinking in problem solving.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.297-311
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• 2013

The mainstream approaches to understand the characteristics of North Korean mathematics education focus on the comparative studies between South and North Korean mathematics curriculum and textbooks through literature analysis. These approaches make it possible to understand what is taught in mathematics class of North Korean school. But it is hard to find any information on how teachers teach mathematics and how students learn it. This study searches North Korean class environment, preparation for class, teaching and learning methods to understand mathematics class in North Korea as they really are. It is extremely difficult to make first-hand observations on North Korean class. Instead, this paper adopted interviews with teachers who have experience of teaching in North Korean school and now live in South Korea. By doing this, it is possible to get some understanding, although somewhat limited, the real aspects of North Korean mathematics class. As a result, there are distinct differences in the characteristics of North Korean mathematics class environment, preparation for class, teaching and learning methods, compared with South Korean.