A review on the recent trends of the science curricula in foreign countries

외국(外國)의 과학과(科學科) 교육과정(敎育課程)을 최근(最近) 동향(動向) 조사(調査)

This study aimed at identifying the characteristics of current science curriculum in several countries in terms of its format, aims and objectives, contents and guidelines and discussed about therm. The curricula were collected from 9 countries- The United States of America(5 states), Canada(4 Provinces), England, West Germany, France, Australia, Newzealand, Japan and the republic of China. Each country had her own characteristics of science curriculum, but there also common characteristics among several countries. First, the format of science curricula in eastern countries were very different from those of western countries. The western countries had the curriculum format which included characteristics and needs of science education, philosophy and background, aims and objectives, contents, characteristics of learners, teaching and learning strategy, teaching materials, guide of experiments, evaluation methods, and other concrete informations while eastern countries had the curriculum format which included only objectives, contents and guidelines. I think that the format of science curriculum in western countries is more recommendable than that of eastern countries. Second, the aims and objectives of science curricula in eastern countries focused on scientific knowledges and concepts, while those of countries emphasized scientific methods and attitudes. Third, the contents of science curricula were very similar regardless of eastern countries or western countries. In other words, all the countries in this study emphasized life science and earth science at lower grade level and physical science at upper grade level. Especially the observation and concrete learning activities were suggested at lower grade level and logical reasoning was emphasized at upper grade level. I think that the integrated (topic-centered) science curriculum is more recommendable than our current non-integrated science curriculum in lower grade levels. Finally, the guidelines of science curriculum in eastern countries did not suggest specific information about teaching contents, experimental methods, teaching-learning activities, evaluation methods, teaching and learning meterals, while those of western countries provided more specific information which teachers could utilize very effectively.