Analysis of Skills in Korean Middle School-Level Environmental Education Textbooks

제 7차 중학교 환경 교과서 내의 환경 기능 분석

The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare Korean middle school-level environmental education(EE) textbooks. More specifically, these analyses and comparisons were designed to explore the extent to which environmental investigation skills were addressed in these EE textbooks (i.e., curriculum inclusion), as well as the manner in which these skills were to be taught and learned (i.e., instructional approaches). To analyze EE textbooks, the researchers developed a 'Curriculum Analysis Chart' that include six skill clusters and four instructional strategies. This analytic chart permitted the researchers to determine which skills were featured in selected textbooks, as well as which skill-oriented instructional strategies accompanied each of those skills. The chart was revised several times through pilot analyses. Using the final version of this chart, the researchers analyzed and then compared the three textbooks. This analysis indicated that the Korean middle school-level EE textbooks were designed to support conceptual learning and understanding of environment and environmental problems/issues (i.e., content-oriented), and were designed to support skill learning to a moderate degree. On the basis of textbooks analysis, the researchers offered several recommendations for future research, and for educational practices in EE.