Abstract
This study investigates requirements of programs for adults to address certain unmet demands for mathematical learning in South Korea. In doing so, we first explore historical contexts of lifelong education in South Korea. Then, by interviewing seven individuals about their understandings of mathematics, we found that the participants recognized the significance of mathematics in their lives even after a formal high school education because of its usefulness and intrinsic value. The participants indicated three different reasons for studying mathematics: their children’s education, professional needs, and joy of studying mathematics itself. They as adults were eager to study mathematics after seeing it in a new way because they came to strongly believe that they could apply mathematics to their lives. Unfortunately, little effort and attention have been given to adult learning of mathematics in South Korea. The findings thus provide meaningful implications on educational policy and research for the development of mathematics education programs for adults in South Korea.
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Cho, E.Y., Kim, R.Y. (2018). Toward Mathematics Education for Adults in South Korea. In: Safford-Ramus, K., Maaß, J., Süss-Stepancik, E. (eds) Contemporary Research in Adult and Lifelong Learning of Mathematics. ICME-13 Monographs. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96502-4_7
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