• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 2003

This study attempts to identify the characteristics of the structure of mathematics textbooks of North Korean high schools. The previous researches on the mathematics textbooks of North Korea show that North Korean mathematics textbooks have a linear structure, which is different from a spiral structure of South Korean textbooks. However, this study found that the textbooks of North Korea published after 1994 indicate that some sections reveal a spiral structure. In addition, most sections of North Korean mathematics textbooks are collectively composed, particularly so in the section of algebra.

• 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.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.143-157
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• 2016

North Korea had been reorganized its educational curriculum and new contexts were authored in 2013. In this study, mathematics contexts of North Korean secondary school's first grade in 2009 and 2013 were investigated. And the changes of content structure, content development, and content composition were analyzed. Results were as follows: First, with respect to the content structure, 1 chapter decreased, while lesson number was intact and 4 subunits increased. Second, with respect to the content development, considerable changes were presented. The tendencies that encouraged student and pursued a student friendly form were investigated. Third, with respect to the content composition, obvious changes were presented. It was investigated that the ratio of numbers and number operations, letters and expressions decreased nearly half. And new contents were supplemented in the areas of patterns, geometry, functions, probability and statics, equation of figures, set and statement. This changes suggests that differences between contexts of South and North Korea is narrowing compared to the past. In conclusion, the direction of North Korean mathematical education is changing for the general direction of South Korean mathematical education.