Instruction for Mathematics and Science in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades
In principle, an instructional unit hour comprises 40 minutes in elementary school, 45 minutes in middle school, and 50 minutes in high school. The minimum total yearly instructional hours for mathematics and science are as follows (by grade during the 34 weeks of the school year):
- Mathematics—In Grades 3 to 4, 272 classroom unit hours (40 minutes per class unit) out of 1,972 total unit hours are allocated for mathematics. In Grades 7 to 9, 374 classroom unit hours (45 minutes per class unit) out of 3,366 total unit hours are allocated for mathematics.
- Science—In Grades 3 to 4, 204 classroom unit hours out of 1,972 unit hours are allocated for science. In Grades 7 to 9, 646 classroom unit hours out of 3,366 unit hours are allocated for science, technology, and home economics. The minimum number of unit hours required for graduation from middle school (Grades 7 to 9) is 3,366. In middle school, science is taught in the subject cluster Science, Technology, and Home Economics. Typically, 136 unit hours are allocated for science in the eighth grade in formal schooling.21
Grade at Which Specialist Teachers for Mathematics and Science are Introduced
In the Korean education system, elementary school students (Grades 1 to 6) are taught by “classroom teachers” and middle school (Grades 7 to 9) and high school (Grades 10 to 12) students are taught by subject teachers. Therefore, students are taught by specialist teachers starting in the seventh grade.
Instructional Materials, Equipment, and Laboratories
Textbooks and teachers’ manuals are developed within frameworks of the national curriculum.22 Textbooks are classified into three types: government-copyrighted textbooks, government-authorized textbooks, and government-approved textbooks. Government-copyrighted textbooks are written by the national government. Government-authorized textbooks are developed by private publishers from content that has been authorized by the national government. Government-approved textbooks are approved by the national government, but against standards that are weaker than those of the authorization review board. In Korea, elementary schools typically use government-copyrighted textbooks, while middle schools typically use government-approved textbooks.23
In mathematics in Grades 1 to 6, students use specially developed extra instructional workbooks along with textbooks. For promoting effective learning, a diverse and appropriate set of educational equipment and materials should be used throughout the entire process of teaching. In science in Grades 3 to 6, students use science textbooks with experimental observation materials to support inquiry-based activities.
Use of Technology
The Korean national curriculum deals with Information and Communications Technology-supported instruction. The mathematics curriculum refers to the use of technological aids to help students perform complicated computations when the focus of instruction is not on developing students’ computational skills (e.g., performing the four arithmetic operations). Technological aids are believed to facilitate a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. In particular, the use of calculators, computers, and educational software is recommended to help students not only to do complicated calculations but also to understand mathematical concepts, principles, and laws. Calculators, however, are not to be used in the classroom for teaching, learning, or developing calculation skills.24 In the science curriculum, the appropriate use of computer communication networks and multimedia is clearly stated as an objective. The curriculum gives priority to hands-on activities and utilizing appropriate computer-based labs, the Internet, and multimedia resources.25
The Korean government provides a cyber learning system for all students and teachers.26 Digital textbooks for science and social studies have been developed and were piloted in research schools.27 Further, for poor households and rural schools, the Korean government has tried to provide personal computers, Internet connection services, and information infrastructure, including increased physical and financial support.