• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.295-322
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• 2021

This study was conducted for one semester through one group pretest-posttest design with 49 first-year middle school students to explore the effects of mathematics-centered STEAM class experiences on students' mathematical modeling abilities. The main results of this study are as follows: First, the results of the pre and post-mathematical modeling ability tests showed that the average score of posttest was improved compared to the pretest, and that the experiences of mathematics-centered STEAM classes provided in this study had a positive effect on improving the mathematical modeling ability of first-year middle school students. Second, STEAM classes were more effective in solving mathematical modeling problems that require students' creative and divergent thinking. Third, the content analysis of student responses for each subquestion showed that STEAM classes were especially more helpful in activating students' mathematical model construction and validating steps.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.125-148
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• 2022

This study aimed to compare and analyze the number and characteristics of modeling problems in chapters related to function contents in International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) mathematics textbooks and Korean high school mathematics textbooks. This study implies how the textbooks contributed to the improvement of students' modeling competency. In this study, three textbooks from IBDP and all nine textbooks from the Korean 2015 revised curriculum were selected. All the problems in textbooks were classified into real-world problems and non-real-world problems. Problems classified as real-world problems were once again divided into word problems and modeling problems according to the need to set up mathematical models. Modeling problems were further categorized into standard applications and good modeling problems depending on whether all the necessary information was included in the problem-solving process. Among the 12 textbooks, the textbook with the most modeling problems was the IBDP textbook, 'Math: Applications and Interpretation', which accounted for 50.41% of modeling problems to the total number of problems. This textbook provided learners with significantly higher modeling opportunities than other IBDP and Korean textbooks, which had 2% and 9% modeling problem ratios. In all 12 textbooks, all problems classified as modeling problems appeared as standard applications, and there were no proper modeling problems. Among the six sub-competencies of mathematical modeling, 'mathematical analysis' and 'interpretation and evaluation of results' sub-competencies appeared the most with very similar number of modeling problems, followed by the 'mathematization'. It is expected that the results of this study will help compare the number and ratio of modeling problems in each textbook and provide a better understanding of which modeling sub-competencies appear to what extent in the modeling problems.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.877-889
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• 2010

Mathematical modelling is a useful method for reinterpreting the real world and for solving real problems. In this paper, we introduced a theory on mathematical modelling. Further, we developed a mathematical model of the H1N1 influenza with Excel. Then, we analyzed the model which tells us what role it can play in an appropriate prediction of the future and in the decision of accompanied policies.

• School Mathematics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.283-299
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• 2004

It is a very important objective of mathematical education to lead students to apply mathematics to the problem situations and to solve the problems. Assuming that mathematical modeling is appropriate for such mathematical education objectives, we must emphasize mathematical modeling learning. In this research, we focused what mathematical concepts are learned and what reasoning are applied and used through mathematical modeling. In the process of mathematical modeling, the students used several types of reasoning; deduction, induction and abduction. Although we cannot generalize a fact by a single case study, deduction has been used to confirm whether their model is correct to the real situation and to find solutions by leading mathematical conclusion and induction to experimentally verify whether their model is correct. And abduction has been used to abstract a mathematical model from a real model, to provide interpretation to existing a practical ground for mathematical results, and elicit new mathematical model by modifying a present model.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.411-431
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• 2009

The efforts on order to enable students to connect meaningfully their real life to mathematical application and mathematical problem solving would be one of the significant functions in school mathematics. In this research, we surveyed 582 elementary school teachers in Seoul to determine their perception and the status about mathematical modeling. The goal of the research was to analyze the survey and interview and investigate the possibility of application of mathematical modeling to elementary mathematics. As a result, they replied that mathematical modeling would be applicable for students' understanding of concepts and motivations.

• School Mathematics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.467-486
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• 2007

In mathematical modeling activity modeling process is usually an iterative process. When model can not be solved, the model needs to be simplified by treating some variables as constants, or by ignoring some variables. On the other hand, when the results from the model are not precise enough, the model needs to be refined by considering additional conditions. In this study we investigate the role of spreadsheet model in model refinement and modeling process. In detail, we observed that by using spreadsheet model students can solve model which can not be solved in paper-pencil environment. And so they need not go back to model simplification process but continue model refinement. By transforming mathematical model to spreadsheet model, the students can predict or explain the real word situations directly without passing the mathematical conclusions step in modeling process.

• School Mathematics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.337-351
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• 2010

Blackout game on a certain size of the Go table, which looks simple, involves a variety of mathematical modeling. This study uses a research and education method. While the mathematically gifted students were playing blackout game, the author, as the instructor, observed the ways in which they approached various mathematical models. Based on the data, this study examines the effects of blackout game on the children's cognitive processes. This study further discusses the issues of questions.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.313-328
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• 2017

This study aims to identify prospective elementary school teachers' perception of mathematical modeling in elementary class. Forty elementary school teachers participated in this study. Each teacher analysed the previous case studies about mathematical modeling in elementary class, developed a hypothetical learning trajectory, applied the hypothetical learning trajectory to his/her class, reflected students' learning and his/her teaching, and made reflective journals. These journals contained teachers' perception of mathematical modeling and the difficulties that teachers experienced in teaching mathematics as mathematical modeling. These journals were analyzed to identify teachers' perception of mathematical modeling in elementary class. This study shows that teachers have common features of mathematical modeling but their perspectives are little bit different, are classified into four kinds. And the difficulties that teachers experienced in teaching mathematics as mathematical modeling are classified into 5 categories; Task, Students' cognitive demand, Teacher' monitering, All students' participation, and Classroom culture. At last, suggestions for mathematical modeling in elementary class are done according to the result of this study.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.101-123
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• 2022

Recently, as the educational paradigm shifts from teacher-centered to learner-centered, the active construction of knowledge of learners is becoming more important. Accordingly, classes using mathematical modeling are receiving attention. However, existing research is focused on teachers or middle and high school students, so it is difficult to apply the contents and results of the research to preservice teachers. Therefore, in this study, the experience of mathematical modeling was examined for elementary school preservice teachers. And we looked at how positive experiences of mathematical modeling change their perceptions. As a result of the study, elementary school preservice teachers had very little experience in mathematical modeling during their school days. In addition, it was found that the perceptions changed more positively than when a theoretical class on mathematical modeling was conducted, rather than when the experience of mathematical modeling was actually shared. Based on the results of this study, implications were suggested in the course of training preservice teachers.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.123-132
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• 2004

In this paper, we reviewed the history of mathematical problem solving since 1900 and investigated problem solving in modeling perspective which is focused on the 21th century. In modeling perspective, problem solvers solve the realistic problem which includes contextualized situations in which mathematics is useful. In this case, the problem is different from the traditional problems which are routine, close, and words problem, etc. Problem solving in modeling perspective emphasizes mathematizing. Most of all, what is important enables students to use mathematics in everyday problem solving situation.