The purpose of this study is to diagnose the adequacy of curriculum contents, and to contrive the measure of curriculum improvement by analyzing the structure and the composition of units on mathematical probability and statistical probability in the ...
The purpose of this study is to diagnose the adequacy of curriculum contents, and to contrive the measure of curriculum improvement by analyzing the structure and the composition of units on mathematical probability and statistical probability in the elementary, middle, and high school textbooks. The study is based on the hypothesis of developmental process of child’s concept of probability, which presumes that the child’s concept of probability starts to develop right after birth, by the experiences the child encounters, gradually forms a pattern based on the frequency distribution, goes through the stage of statistical probability, then develop into the concept of mathematical probability. The issues focused in this study are as follows.
1. Does the concept of probability, covered in the 7thcurriculums of elementary, middle, andhighschools, organized systematically reflecting the characteristics of mathematical probability and statistical probability in the balanced manner, not being inclined toward either side? How about the order of introducing the concept of mathematical probability and statistical probability?
2. In terms of learner’s developmental process of concept of probability, is it possible to improve curriculum in order to secure the linkage to the new developmental process (frequency distribution => statistical probability => mathematical probability)?
As the result of textbook analysis, it has been found that the concept of mathematical probability is covered in 6-Na and 8-Na. The concept of statistical probability is mainly introduced in Math I, and mathematical probability and statistical probability are both covered in Math I. And it was also found that elementary, middle, and high schools are all cover the units of the number of cases, or the permutations and combinations prior to the introduction of combinational probability. The problems related to mathematical probability and statistical probability are approached in different mechanisms. Statistical probability problems were given in the real settings of practical statistics, while mathematical probability problems were given in artificial settings manipulating typical subjects such as dice, coins, and beads. Regarding the portion of statistical probability problems and mathematical probability problems, mathematical probability problems were overwhelmingly outnumbered in 6-Na, 8-Na, and Math I.
Based on the hypothesis of developmental process of concept of probability, which presumes that the concept of probability starts from the concept of distribution, goes through the concept of statistical probability, and reaches to the concept of mathematical probability, a measure of curriculums composition, which efficiently links the resource oriented prospect to the combinational approach, is contrived.
According to the measure, mathematical probability can briefly be introduced in 6-Na, and statistical probability can be introduced utilizing frequency distribution chart, in 8-Na, where the concept of probability is mainly covered. And Math I can cover both of mathematical probability and statistical probability together.
This study was to contrive the possibility of curriculum improvement, under the hypothesis of developmental process of concept of probability, which presumes that the concept of probability starts from the concept of distribution, goes through the concept of statistical probability, and reaches to the concept of mathematical probability. It would be necessary that this study to be followed by the case study, in which these mechanisms are applied to students in school setting, and its effects are analyzed.