• Journal of Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.207-219
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• 2009

This study aims to investigate the key common topics identified and discussed in relevant literature associated with the integrative efforts among STEM disciplines. The key methodology and pedagogy were examined and the significant benefits of using the design method for STEM education were discussed. Meta-analysis was employed and qualitative approach was mainly used to synthesize the major findings and conclusions of the 33 empirical studies. The findings of this meta-analysis revealed that the types and names describing the design methods used the various terms, but the key features have reflected the similar pedagogical benefits and key characteristics. The engineering design is an effective strategic methodology and pedagogy for STEM education. In addition, the design methods show the key benefits including (1) to improve academic achievement, (2) to promote students' affective gains, (3) to facilitate collaborative learning, and (4) to explore STEM related careers and jobs. The collaborative works among STEM professions are needed to promote the benefits of using design methods for integrating STEM subjects.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-56
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• 2005

This paper provides an analysis of a survey on high achieving students' under-standing of continuity of function. The purposes of the survey in this paper were to identify high achieving students' concept images of continuity of function in the way of Tall & Vinner(1981). The students' individual written answers were collected and task-based, semi-structured individual interviews with 5 students were videotaped. Students were asked to explain their under-standing or reasoning about continuity of function. Five types of the concept images were identified in the analysis. Obvious discrepancy of results between this study and Tall & Vinner(1981)'s were pointed out. It is very likely that the differences in results drawn in both studies are results of the different orientations of the textbooks in terms of their degree of emphasis on the concept definition of continuity of function.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2004

According to the 7-th curriculum, irrational number should be introduced using repeating decimals in 8-th grade mathematics. To do so, the relation between rational numbers and repeating decimals such that a number is rational number if and only if it can be represented by a repeating decimal, should be examined closely Since this relation lacks clarity in some text books, irrational numbers have only slight relation with repeating decimals in those books. Furthermore, some text books introduce irrational numbers showing that $\sqrt{2}$ is not rational number, which is out of 7-th curriculum. On the other hand, if we use numeral 0 as a repetend, many results related to repeating decimals can be represented concisely. In particular, the treatments of order relation with repeating decimals in 8-th grade text books must be reconsidered.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.20 no.3 s.27
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• pp.443-467
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to study the 2nd grade elementary students' common thinking and differences of additive and multiplicative thinking. For meaningful discussion of the above, we have established the following research questions. 1. What are the properties of the multiplicative thinking of 2nd grade elementary students? - What are the common properties of the multiplicative thinking of 2nd grade elementary students? - What are the properties of the various multiplicative thinking levels? 2. How is multiplicative thinking presented in Korean math textbooks? The conclusions of this study were followings: First, the 2nd grade elementary students in the multiplicative thinking learnt used by translating multiplication into specific situations. And they often used different models of multiplication. Second, additive thinking developed into the multiplicative thinking. After being helped by their teachers, students who thought additively were then able to think multiplicatively. Whereas after being helped by their teachers, students who were already competent at multiplicative thinking gained a deeper understanding. Third, they learned the commutative property of multiplication after their understanding of the 'repeated addition approach' and the multiplicative approach was sufficiently reinforced. Last, students should be taught using different models based on the repeated addition approach.

• School Mathematics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.103-121
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• 2005

This article compares and analyzes mathematics textbooks of North Korea, South Korea, China and Japan and draws meaningful ways for introducing the division algorithm of fractions. The analysis is based on the five contexts: 'measurement division', 'determination of a unit rate', 'reduction of the quantities in the same measure', 'division as the inverse of multiplication or Cartesian product', 'analogy with multiplication algorithm of fractions'. The main focus of the analysis is what context is used to introduce the algorithm and how much it can appeal to students. This analysis supports that there is a few differences of introducing methods the division algorithm of fractions among those countries and more meaningful way can be considered than ours. It finally suggests that we teach the algorithm in a way which can have students easily see the reason of multiplying the reciprocal of a divisor when they divide with fractions. For this, we need to teach the meaning of a reciprocal of fraction and consider to use the context of determination of a unit rate.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.349-368
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• 2023

The revised 2022 educational curriculum highlighted the significance of mathematical literacy as a foundational competency that can be cultivated through the learning of various subjects, along with language proficiency and digital literacy. However, due to the lack of a precise definition for mathematical literacy, there exists a challenge in systematically implementing it across all subjects in the educational curriculum. The aim of this study is to clarify the definition of mathematical literacy in the curriculum through a literature review and to analyze the application patterns of mathematical literacy in other subjects so that mathematical literacy can be systematically applied as a basic literacy in Korea's curriculum. To achieve this, the study first clarifies and categorizes the meaning of mathematical literacy through a comparative analysis of terms such as numeracy and mathematical competence via a literature review. Subsequently, the study compares the categories of mathematical literacy identified in both domestic and international educational curricula and analyzes the application of mathematical literacy in the education curriculum of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, where mathematical literacy is reflected in the achievement standards across various subjects. It is expected that understanding each property by subdividing the meaning of mathematical literacy and examining the application modality to the curriculum will help construct a curriculum that reflects mathematical literacy in subjects other than mathematics.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.324-347
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• 2022

Geological information on the Korean Peninsula plays a significant role in science education because it provides a basic knowledge foundation for public use and creates an opportunity to learn about the nature of geology as a historical science. In particular, the Mesozoic Era, when the Korean Peninsula experienced a high degree of tectonic activity, is a pivotal period for understanding the geological history of the Korean Peninsula. This study aimed to analyze whether content regarding the geology of the Mesozoic Era are reliably and consistently presented in the 'Geology of the Korean Peninsula' section of Earth Science II textbooks based on the 2015 revised curriculum. Four textbooks for Earth Science II were analyzed, focusing on the sedimentary strata, tectonic movement, and granites of the Mesozoic Era. The analysis items were terms, periods, and rock distribution areas. The consistency within and among textbooks and of textbooks and scientific knowledge was analyzed for each analysis item. Various inconsistencies were found regarding the geological terms, periods, and rock distribution areas of the Mesozoic Era, and suggestions for its improvement were discussed based on these inconsistencies. It is essential to develop educational materials that are consistent with the latest scientific knowledge through collaboration between the scientific and educational communities.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-122
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• 2014

In this paper, fraction division algorithms in Korean elementary mathematics textbooks are analyzed as a part of the groundwork to improve teaching methods for fraction division algorithms. There are seemingly six fraction division algorithms in ${\ll}Math\;5-2{\gg}$, ${\ll}Math\;6-1{\gg}$ textbooks according to the 2006 curriculum. Four of them are standard algorithms which show the multiplication by the reciprocal of the divisors modally. Two non-standard algorithms are independent algorithms, and they have weakness in that the integration to the algorithms 8 is not easy. There is a need to reconsider the introduction of the algorithm 4 in that it is difficult to think algorithm 4 is more efficient than algorithm 3. Because (natural number)${\div}$(natural number)=(natural number)${\times}$(the reciprocal of a natural number) is dealt with in algorithm 2, it can be considered to change algorithm 7 to algorithm 2 alike. In textbooks, by converting fraction division expressions into fraction multiplication expressions through indirect methods, the principles of calculation which guarantee the algorithms are explained. Method of using the transitivity, method of using the models such as number bars or rectangles, method of using the equivalence are those. Direct conversion from fraction division expression to fraction multiplication expression by handling the expression is possible, too, but this is beyond the scope of the curriculum. In textbook, when dealing with (natural number)${\div}$(proper fraction) and converting natural numbers to improper fractions, converting natural numbers to proper fractions is used, but it has been never treated officially.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.485-499
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• 2015

In this paper, focusing on definitions of terms related to ratio (a:b, external ratio, internal ratio, percentage, proportion, bi-ui-gap(value of a:b)), elementary school mathematics textbooks of Korea and Japan are compared. We can find significant differences between Korean and Japanese textbooks. In Korean textbook, 'bi-yul' includes both of the internal ratio and the external ratio. In Japanese textbooks, the external ratio(amount of unit size) and the internal ratio(wariai) are defined independently. And a:b is set to a subconcept of the internal ratio. In addition, a:b and percentage are presented as methods to express the internal ratio. From these results, the following four implications for developing our mathematics textbooks can be presented as conclusions. First, it is necessary to limit the ratio to mean the internal ratio. Second, it is necessary to define connotatively the ratio as the internal ratio and to set it as a prior concept of a:b. Third, it is necessary to define 1% as the internal ratio 0.01. Fourth, it is necessary to define bi-ui-gap as a number for expressing a:b, when viewing a:b as the expression method of the internal ratio.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.159-170
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• 2012

Many obstacles have been found in the learning of ratio and rate. The types of epistemological obstacles concern 'terms', 'calculations' and 'symbols'. It is important to identify the epistemological obstacles that students must overcome to understand the learning of ratio and rate. In this respect, the present study attempts to figure out what types of epistemological obstacles emerge in the area of learning ratio and rate and where these obstacles are generated from and to search for the teaching implications to correct them. The research questions were to analyze this concepts as follow; A. How do elementary students show the epistemological obstacles in ratio and rate? B. What is the reason for epistemological obstacles of elementary students in the learning of ratio and rate? C. What are the teaching implications to correct epistemological obstacles of elementary students in the learning of ratio and rate? In order to analyze the epistemological obstacles of elementary students in the learning of ratio and rate, the present study was conducted in five different elementary schools in Seoul. The test was administered to 138 fifth grade students who learned ratio and rate. The test was performed three times during six weeks. In case of necessity, additional interviews were carried out for thorough examination. The final results of the study are summarized as follows. The epistemological obstacles in the learning of ratio and rate can be categorized into three types. The first type concerns 'terms'. The reason is that realistic context is not sufficient, a definition is too formal. The second type of epistemological obstacle concerns 'calculations'. This second obstacle is caused by the lack of multiplication thought in mathematical problems. As a result of this study, the following conclusions have been made. The epistemological obstacles cannot be helped. They are part of the natural learning process. It is necessary to understand the reasons and search for the teaching implications. Every teacher must try to develop the teaching method.