A new book examines math study in four nations that are receiving lots of attention for their education systems these days: China, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.
“Math Curriculum in the Pacific Rim” is based on the proceedings of a conference sponsored by the Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum, held not too long ago, which brought together government officials and scholars from across Asia. The book is edited by a Zalman Usiskin and Edwin Willmore, of the U of Chicago.
It includes written contributions from Asian education officials and scholars, as well as American experts who have studied K-12 education in those nations. Many of the contributions, which are in English, are extensions of presentations given at the curriculum conference.
A sampling of the essays included:
—An Overview of Mathematics Education in Singapore
—Some Characteristics of the Korean National Curriculum and Its Revision Process
—Mathematics Curriculum Standards of China
—Sixty Years of Mathematics Syllabi and Textbooks in Singapore
—An Historical Analysis of the Revisions of the National Curriculum Standards for Upper Secondary School Math in Japan After World War II
—Translating Elementary School Mathematics Curriculum: Isn’t School Mathematics Universal?
—The Status of Calculator Technology in United States K–8 Mathematics Curriculum
and
—Moving Beyond Myths to Foster International Collaboration
It’s selling for $39.99, in paperback.