Comparison of Turkey with South Korea's science curriculum

The purpose of this research is to find out similarities and differences of the curricula through comparing elementary school science curricula that are applied to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. grades in Turkey and South Korea with respect to content, education philosophies and purposes, teaching-learning processes and assesment- evaluation approaches. In the study, by using the survey model of qualitative research models; educational systems of countries, geographical, political and economic structures of the countries, information about educational philosophies and educational objectives were obtained from articles, official web sites of the country authorities and books written on the subject. The information about the Scientific and technological cognitive domains of the students who had taken TIMMS 2015 examination in both countries were obtained from TIMMS 2015 National Science Reports. Horizontal approach of comparative education approaches and document analysis method as data analysis method were used. In accordance with the data obtained, comparisons were made evaluating the philosophies, the purposes, learning and teaching processes, assessment and evaluation situations of the curricula. In the Science Curricula of Turkey and South Korea, subject was divided into units and topics, learning outcomes were given. However, it was found out that the Science curriculum of Turkey is more extensive and detailed in this contex. It was observed that the evaluation in the Education Systems of Turkey and South Korea was carried out via various examinations, observation tests and reports stressing the importance of the process. Turkey and South Korea have been doing national exams with the purpose of selection, placement and system evaluation. Besides, it was found out that the students taking TIMMS exam in Turkey and South Korea differed in knowledge, application and reasoning sub-dimensions of cognitive domain. The findings were explained and interpreted in tables. According to the results of research findings, it was observed that the Science curricula of Turkey and South Korea had similarities in shape. However, it was found out that the Science curriculum of Turkey was more comprehensive than the Science curriculum of South Korea. Suggestions have been made in the framework of findings acquired at the end of the research.