• School Mathematics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.401-422
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• 2008

In the current school curriculum, an alternative assessment method which focuses more on the problem solving process rather than the final solution is being investigated. The goal is to evaluate students' understanding of the subject. A descriptive evaluation is being suggested as a way of examining the thought process of the students by a structured analysis of the problem solving process. But currently, there are not enough descriptive problems available for teachers to effectively carry out the alternative assessment method in the elementary school mathematics curriculum. In this research, we surveyed 197 elementary school teachers in Seoul to determine the status of descriptive evaluation in elementary school mathematics and to understand the teachers perception about the new assessment method. The goal of the survey was to find an effective implication of the new assessment method in elementary mathematics classes. The research showed that the elementary teachers use this assessment method about 4 to 7 times per month in their classes. They give descriptive problem test anytime they think it is appropriate during the Instruction of the topic. More than 90% of the teachers were using this assessment method to improve students' creativity and mathematical thinking. The teachers in the survey also commented that the teachers' administrative responsibility should be reduced and that the school environment in general should be improved for the new assessment method to be successful. Finally the study also showed that development of more descriptive problems in each grade level is needed to progress the new assessment method.