This study aims to provide basic information of new textbooks for newly implemented curriculum in 2018 and to help physics teachers select effective textbooks and instructional materials, which can be beneficial in school. For this study, curricula and high-school physics textbooks in South Korea and California, the United States are compared for analysis. The textbook comparison is limited to the section of electromagnetism. A textbook from a publishing company, A, which is generally used in Korean high schools, is chosen as a representative Korean textbook. For the United States, according to a survey performed by the American Institute of Physics, a textbook that has the highest satisfaction rate among physics teachers and has been increasingly employed in school is chosen.
The conclusion of this study is as follows.
First, the American textbook has focused on defining each chapter’s physical terms and explaining physical concepts for student’s comprehension, rather than providing problems that require mathematics. It also has 3 times more numbers of problem sets than those of the Korean textbook.
Second, the Korean textbook has visually attractive elements such as various, colorful figures and photos. These visual elements are believed to help students’ comprehension and interests in the subject.
Third, the American textbook describes scientific achievements by major scientists chronically. It will help students understand that scientific progress is still ongoing and scientists are eagerly seeking for new knowledge.
Fourth, in the American textbook, the subject of each chapter is named with a physical concept. It enables students to efficiently find necessary subjects.
Curriculum is a vital resource of national education and reflects nation’s cultural characteristics comprehensively. In this regard, the textbook plays an important role in actual schooling. Therefore, studies should not be limited to a simple comparison with foreign curriculum and textbooks, but integrate their advantageous features into an improved and effective instructional tool.