• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.279-297
• /
• 2015

In the present study, we review the history of the participations of the Korean national team in the International Mathematical Olympiad for 28 years. We identifiy three major events that highlighted the development of the Korean Mathematical Olympiad program: The first participation in the International Mathematical Olympiad, hosting of the International Mathematical Olympiad, and winning the first place in the International Mathematical Olympiad. We also propose some recommendations for next steps to facilitate the development of Mathematical Olympiad in Korea.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.103-114
• /
• 2011

We have carried out a follow-up study on the students who have participated or are going to participate in either the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO), the Asia Pacific Astronomy Olympiad (APAO) or the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) from 2002 to 2011. The survey questionnaires returned from ten high school students including five who are to participate in 2011 as well as fourteen college students have been analyzed in various aspects of their backgrounds and personal characteristics. In family life, their parents tend to have high educational background along with high expectations for their children. In regard to the academic environment, most students express a general satisfaction in school life, including their relationship with teachers and classmates. In personal characteristics, they describe themselves as inquisitive, perseverant, competitive, creative, self-motivated and goal-oriented, in addition to many other traits. Most students have a strong interest in astronomy which usually begins in middle schools through exposure to astronomy books. On top of it, the astronomy olympiad has provided them with an opportunity to strengthen their self-esteem, problem-solving ability and conviction about scientific careers. Accordingly, the experience in astronomy olympiad has led a considerable number of students to continuously studying in astronomy related fields or otherwise in other science and engineering areas. In conclusion, the astronomy olympiad plays such an important role that it can make a significant contribution to astronomy as well as science in general by having positive impact on the potential career path of its participants.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.271-281
• /
• 2008

Quarter a century ago, I founded the Colorado Mathematical Olympiad. The Colorado Mathematical Olympiad is the largest essay-type in-person mathematical competition in the United States, with 600 to 1,000 participants competing annually for prizes. In this article, I explain what it is, how it works, give examples of problems and solutions, and share with the reader careers of some of the Olympiad's winners.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.121-133
• /
• 2017

In the present study, we investigate and compare the International Mathematical Olympiad participation histories of Korea, China, and Japan. Especially, the processes for the first participation of the IMO, trends in team rankings of the IMO, and national team selection systems and education systems are compared. And we investigate and compare the policies for the talented girls mathematics Olympians. Several proposals are suggested for development of Korean Mathematical Olympiad and participations to IMO.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.145-171
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this research aimed to analyze of the present database for the International Science Olympiad participants, to survey opinions for the Olympiad, and to figure for the better performance. For the present database of International Science Olympiad participants, we analyzed the data of KOSEF(Korea Science and Engineering Foundation). The subjects for survey are the participants of the International Science Olympiad. They are totally 277 persons and 250 of those were prizewinners. The results are as follows. The International Science Olympiad Prizewinners are increasing continuously. In regard of their career, the ratio of participants who went on to engineering fields of universities is 74.4%, to the medical profession 20.4%, the others 5.2%. The portion of students who choose medical profession were increasing since 1998 rapidly. The subjects responded the best benefit for the Olympiad were college-preparatory(60.0%) but they said they also lost the opportunity to study diversely.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.10 no.2 s.26
• /
• pp.89-102
• /
• 2006

The present article is dedicated to discussing the methods of teaching schoolchildren to solve creative problems. A few types of Olympiad problems were chosen as a didactic content of the article. The relevance of the choice receives proper grounding. Explanations are followed by examples from pedagogic practice. The article was written for the use of school teachers and educationalists that are researching the problem of improving creative thinking with schoolchildren.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.719-730
• /
• 2004

The International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) was established and its foundation were published by the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society (EAAS), in order to spread astronomical knowledge, promote international cooperation in astronomical education area, and recognize the importance of astronomy in far-reaching field of science and human culture. In 1996, the first IAO was held at the Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) of the Russian Academy of sciences (RAS) located in the north Caucasus of Russia. Since then, it has been held every year. Here, we will describe the present status of the International Astronomy Olympiad, its major results by year, related institutions, organizations, and the main regulations regarding its operation. In order to measure the levels of scientific knowledge and thinking abilities, we develop a rubric to analyze the characteristics of problems in the IAO with regards to cognitive aspects of scientific inquiry. These problems require high levels of content knowledge and scientific method knowledge. Also high order thinking abilities and high levels of convergent thinking skills, instead of divergent, are needed to solve these problems. Thus, the problems presented are set a high difficulty. Through this analysis, we can understand main purpose of the International Astronomy Olympiad and explore the future direction of the Korea Astronomy Olympiad.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.109-121
• /
• 2008

The International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) was established by the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society in order to disseminate astronomical knowledge, promote international cooperation in astronomical education area and recognize the importance of astronomy in far-reaching field of science and human culture. The first IAO competition was held at the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences located in the north Caucasus of Russia in 1996. Since then, it has been held every year. This paper describes the present status of the IAO main regulations regarding its operation and major results by year, related institutions, and organizations. We created a scientific inquiry framework to analyze past IAO problems in the recognitive aspect in order to measure levels of the scientific knowledges and the scientific thinking abilities. Through this analysis, we can understand the current status of the IAO, and examine the future direction of Korea Astronomy Olympiad. Also, we can make preparation for the IAO competition and the education of delegates.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.89-101
• /
• 2011

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) initiated by the Thailand Astronomical Society in 2007 is an annual competition for high school students. One of its aim is to enhance the development of international exchange in the field of school education in astronomy and astrophysics. This paper first provides the overview of the IOAA in terms of key regulations based on its statutes, history and current status. Secondly, the published syllabus of the IOAA is used for content analysis according to subject areas regarding the exam questions of the IOAA in theoretical, observational and data analysis parts from 2007 to 2010. Also, a scientific inquiry framework is applied to the same questions for assessment based on scientific inquiry in the cognitive aspect with two sub-classes of scientific knowledge and scientific reasoning. Among a dozen astronomy subject areas listed on the syllabus, the theoretical part of the IOAA makes more frequent use of the Sun, the solar system, properties of stars, and concept of time. In content knowledge, a factor of scientific knowledge, the IOAA questions, especially in the theoretical part have a lesser degree in difficulty than the IAO (International Astronomy Olympiad) exam questions for the same period whose degree in difficulty is comparable to college level. With regard to scientific reasoning, the IOAA questions tend to involve convergent rather than divergent thinking. Lastly, in light of these findings, discussions are given on the outcome of Korean participation in the previous IOAAs and ways to help better in preparing Korean students for future astronomy Olympiads.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
• /
• v.19 no.2 s.30
• /
• pp.26-47
• /
• 2006

Environmental problems became bigger and widely known among all parts of the society in the last decade. The broad and sustainable study of the environment is the most basic and primary solution to the problems. For this reason, International Environmental Project Olympiad (INEPO) was organized in 1993. Many countries have participated in this organization. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to revitalize the environmental education and to realize the value of environmental education by making students aware of the environmental problems through the INEPO and Korean Environmental Olympiad (KEO). To achieve these goals, we conducted as follows First, we introduced aims, major contents and rules of the INEPO and grasped problems related to the applying method of students who want to participate in the INEPO in Korea. In addition, we introduced both results of domestic contest for participating in the 14th INEPO and of the 14th INEPO itself opened in 2006. Second, we analysed participants' themes according to project types such as environment-biology, environment-chemistry, environment-physics, environment-health and environment-social sciences from Previous INEPOs. Third, we had interviews with several participants to gather their thoughts on motivation and impression of participation, the reason of theme selection, and the method of environmental education in school, by visiting each booth of INEPO. Finally, we suggested sustainable methods of the KEO to revitalize environmental education, and proposed various methods to revitalize the environmental education through the KEO and INEPO in the primary and secondary schools.