An Analysis of Mathematics Contents and Teaching and Learning Methods of International Baccalaureate: Focusing on Primary and Middle School Level

International Baccalaureate(IB) that has been well known as international curriculum has been used by many countries and schools all around the world. The schools usually use IB with their own national curriculum. This study analyzed primary and middle school mathematics contents and teaching and learning methods of IB. As a result, mathematics contents of PYP are similar with Korean primary mathematics curriculum. However, in middle school level, some of mathematics contents of MYP are included in elective subjects in Korean high school. It indicates that the level of mathematics contents of MYP is higher than those of Korean middle school curriculum. In addition, PYP takes a transdisciplinary teaching approach and MYP takes an interdisciplinary teaching approach, so they teach multi subjects with one main theme. They also take learner-centered inquiry oriented teaching method. On the basis of the results, we discussed some implications for Korean mathematics curriculum and textbooks in regard to interdisciplinary integration and the form of curriculum document of IB. We also suggested the necessity of in-depth case study on IB certified schools.