• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.401-418
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• 2018

The current geometric and vector textbooks focus on the mechanical activities of finding focus, corner, etc. through elliptic equations. In this paper, we propose a process in which analogy and analytical methods are used in reversible activities of focusing from a given elliptic graph without a coordinate plane. The exploratory tool was used as Geogebra. At first, students tried to find the focus of the ellipse by randomly constructing the major a is and the minor a is in the given ellipse. However, we have experienced a method of constructing the circle of symmetry and analyzed this principle and deduced it to the ellipse. As a result, we could construct the center, long a is and short a is of the ellipse. Then, using the analytical method, the focus formula was recognized as the Pythagorean theorem, and the ellipse's focus was constructed by using the original drawing. Therefore, it is confirmed that analogy and analytical method can positively affect the elliptical focus.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2013

In this paper, firstly, 'value', 'vertices', 'height' are discussed, which are used in the multiple contexts. Then 'sketch', 'mental math', 'zero point oneth place/zero point zero oneth place/zero point zereo zero oneth place', 'number of place', 'natural number part/decimal part' are discussed, which are not used consistently. Finally, middle school mathematics terms 'distance', 'number line', 'the value of the expression' are discussed which are used in elementary school mathematics textbooks/workbooks. From these discussions, the following four suggestions are proposed as conclusions. First, as a mathematical term 'value' and 'distance' should be emphasized. As 'distance' is a middle school term, there is a need to consider the 'height' as 'the length of the line segment' instead of 'distance'. Second, 'number of place' which can be replaced with other suitable term, 'the value of the expression' including 'value of $20{\times}4$', 'natural number part/decimal part', 'vertex of pyramid/vertex of cone', 'mental math' should not be used. Third, there is a need to consider the use of 'mixed decimal' and 'proper decimal'. In addition, there is a need to expand the use of 'sketch'. Fourth, there is a need to consider the confirmation of 'number line' as an elementary school mathematics term. In addition, there is a need to consider to specify that 'decimal first place', 'decimal second place', 'decimal third place' can be used equivalently with 'zero point oneth place', 'zero point zero oneth place', 'zero point zereo zero oneth place' respectively.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.63-80
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• 2009

In this study, we analyzed teachers' recognitions of the necessity of mathematical descriptive tests and their practices in the elementary schools. We then suggested several examples of improved formats of the mathematical descriptive evaluation. For analyzing teachers' recognitions and practices of mathematical descriptive assessment, we surveyed 104 elementary school teachers in Seoul. We collected the test items from the schools and analyzed them to find how they are practiced in the schools. The results were as follows. First, most elementary school teachers are basically recognizing the direction and the purpose of mathematical descriptive assessment. Second, the ratio of the descriptive test items was very low compared with the teachers' recognition of necessity of including descriptive items in the tests. Third, the teachers usually made the descriptive items with their colleagues using textbooks, test manuals for teachers, and the references that the office of education provided. Fourth, to enhance teachers' understanding of descriptive assessment, systematic training programs for teachers about the descriptive assessment should be continued. Finally, the office of education and research institutes should provide various types of test items and more teacher training programs on descriptive assessments.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.501-520
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• 2019

This study compared and analyzed Korean, American, Singaporean, and Japanese middle school mathematics curriculum standards and the learning contents in statistics. Through a comparative analysis of the curriculums of these four countries, I found several overall features and differences between the curriculums. First, all four countries emphasized statistical education in a real-life context. Second, all four countries emphasized the use of technological tools. Third, there is a middle school grade in which only Korea does not deal with statistical domains. Fourth, the statistical areas of the United States, Singapore, and Japan focused on identifying trends or variability in data distribution. Fifth, I have found some contents that only Korea does not deal with. Based on this, the following recommendations were developed for the development of the next curriculum and new textbooks in Korea. First, the statistics curriculum should be changed from one that focuses on understanding statistical concepts to one that focuses on statistical activity that utilizes these concepts. Second, in terms of middle school statistical curriculum contents, the addition of interquartile range (IQR) and box plots as learning contents should be considered. IQR and box plots are simple and practical techniques for the comparison of multiple sets of data that can be easily learned and drawn by middle school level students and applied to real-life-related statistical data to expand statistical literacy. Through this study, it is suggested that IQR and box plots need to be included in the statistical curriculum of middle schools in Korea.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.355-376
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• 2010

This research was about analyzing students' major error types in the field of elementary 1st grade mathematics numbers and operations, and formulating and applying effective teaching methods to find out their effects. Among the errors the students were making, it was found that in the field of numbers there was more than 50% chance of making calculation mistakes in 50 rounds of rational counting. Also, in the field of operations, it was discovered that most of students' mistakes had to do with subtraction. The results from the classification of the 4 types of error showed that most errors were made from having inaccurate concept of knowledge and definition. Thus, it can be concluded that when elementary 1st grade teachers teach students mathematics, it is most important that they put best effort into firmly establishing the students fundamental concept, definition, facts, and functions. For that matter, students were interviewed one by one, and by implementing learning method using some concrete materials as tools, students were able to fix their own errors. More importantly, students were able to gain interest and become more willing to participate by joining in this program, which led to more effective guidance.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.337-353
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to provide a useful reference for the elementary school mathematics curriculum of Japan. For this research, we compare the new version of the elementary school mathematics curriculum of Japan and Korea. Roughly speaking, Japan emphasized learning through mathematical ability. On the other hand, the case of Korea, a special emphasis was placed on the ability of problem-solving and mathematical communication. These abilities developed on the base of the mathematical knowledge and skill. The ratio of teaching time are high on mathematics, but Japan ensures much more hours than Korea. Finally we will focus on the result for the application process of the primary school mathematics curriculum.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.16
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• pp.217-218
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• 2003

제7차 교육과정의 기본방향인 '21세기의 세계화 정보화 시대를 주도할 자율적이고 창의적인 한국인 육성'에서 볼 수 있듯이, 새로운 교육과정에서는 학생들의 창의력을 신장시키기 위한 방안으로 교과별 교육과정이나 재량활동 운영 등을 제시한 바 있다. 수학교육에서도 이러한 시대적 흐름에 발맞추어 수학적 창의력의 신장이 강조되고 있는 상황이다. 그동안 이론적인 측면과 실제적인 측면에서 수학적 창의성에 대한 성과가 축적되었다. 이론적인 측면에서 볼 때, Haylock(1987)등에 의해 창의력과 수학적 창의력의 구분되었으며, 특히 '수학적' 창의력에 대한 다양한 정의가 제안되었다. 실제적인 측면에서도 수학적 창의력을 측정하려는 평가 도구들이 그 동안 여러 가지로 개발하였다. 그러나, 이러한 수학적 창의력에 관한 전반적인 연구는 종국적으로 교실 수학수업에 반영되어야 함에도 불구하고, 그리 만족스럽지 못한 상황이다. 특히, 교실에서 수학수업을 실제로 담당하는 교사들이 수학적 창의력을 위한 수업을 하고자 하더라도 당장 가까이에서 구할 수 있는 교수 학습 자료가 여전히 부족한 상황이다. 물론 그 동안 교실 수학수업에서 사용할 수 있는 창의력 개발 프로그램이 전무한 것은 아니다. 그런데 그들 대부분은 게임이나 퍼즐을 이용한 것으로 그 수준이 단순 흥미유발에 그치고 있거나 소수의 영재아를 위한 소재를 중심으로, 특히 수학적 사고 과정을 따르기보다는, 시행착오를 거쳐 원하는 결과를 얻을 가능성이 많으며, 수학과의 연계성이 불분명한 채로 단순놀이에 그치는 경우가 적지 않아, 수업과 연관되어 창의력의 신장이라는 측면에서 볼 때, 적용하기 어려운 사례가 많다. 이러한 상황을 개선하는 데 기여하고자, 현재 교과교육공동연구 지원사업의 하나로 한국 학술 진흥재단의 지원을 받아, '개방형 문제(open-ended problems)'를 중심 소재로 한 '수학적 창의성'을 신장하기 위한 교수학습 프로그램을 개발하여, 중학교 1학년을 대상으로 연구를 진행하고 있다. 개방형 문제라 함은 명백한 정의가 어렵지만 Pehkeon(1995)는 개방형문제의 정의를 명백히 하기위한 시도로서 그 반대로 닫힌 문제에 대한 정의로부터 시작하여, 어떤 문제가 닫혀있다고 하는 것은 그 문제의 출발 상황과 목표 상황이 닫혀 있는 것, 즉 명백히 설명되어있을 때라면 개방형 문제는 이와 반대의 개념임을 시사하였다. Silver(1995)는 개방형 문제를 문제 자체가 다른 해석이 가능하거나 서로 다를 인정할만한 답을 가질 수 있는 문제 또는 풀이과정이 다양한 문제, 자연스럽게 다른 문제들을 제안하거나 일반화를 제시할 수 있는 문제라고 정의하였다. 따라서 개방형 문제란 출발상황이나 목표 상황의 일부가 닫혀있지 않을 때를 말하고 문제의 조건을 만족하는 해답이 여러 가지로 존재하는 문제를 뜻한다. 수학적 창의력을 개발하는 데, 다른 문제 유형보다도, 개방형 문제가 유리하다는 점은 이미 여러 학자들에 의해 주장되어왔다. 미국 국립영재교육센터(NRCG/T)는 기존의 사지선다형이나 단답형 문제와 질문들은 학생들의 사고 능력에 관한 정보를 거의 알려주지 못하기 때문에 한 가지 이상의 답을 요구하는 ‘open-ended' 또는 ’open-response' 문제와 질문을 가지고 수학 분야에서의 창의적 사고 능력과 표현능력을 측정해야 한다고 하였고, 개방형 문제가 일반적으로 정답이 하나인 문제보다 고차원적인 사고를 요구하게 하는 문제 형태라고 하였다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 근거를 바탕으로 개방형 문제의 유형을 다양한 답이 존재하는 문제, 다양한 해결 전략이 가능한 문제, 답이 없는 문제, 문제 만들기, 일반화가 가능한 문제 등으로 보고, 수학적 창의성 중 특히 확산적 사고에 초점을 맞추어 개방형 문제가 확산적 사고의 요소인 유창성, 독창성, 유연성 등에 각각 어떤 영향을 미치는지 20주의 프로그램을 개발, 진행하여 그 효과를 검증하고자 한다. 개방형 문제를 활용한 수학적 창의력 신장 프로그램을 개발하고 현장 학교에 실험 적용하여 그 효과를 분석하고자 하는 본 연구는 창의력 신장에 비중을 두는 수학과 교수-학습 과정에 실제적인 교수 학습 자료를 제공하는 것뿐만 아니라 교사들에게는 수학교실에서 사용 가능한 실제적인 활용방안을, 학생들에게는 주어진 문제를 여러 가지 각도에서 생각하면서 다양한 사고를 경험하는 기회를 가질 수 있어, 수학을 보는 학생들의 태도에도 긍정적인 변화를 가져올 수 있을 것이라 기대한다.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.381-400
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• 2023

As the era of solving various and complex problems in the real world using artificial intelligence and big data appears, problem-solving competencies that can solve realistic problems through a mathematical approach are required. In fact, the 2015 revised mathematics curriculum and the 2022 revised mathematics curriculum emphasize mathematical modeling as an activity and competency to solve real-world problems. However, the real-world problems presented in domestic and international textbooks have a high proportion of artificial problems that rarely occur in real-world. Accordingly, domestic and international countries are paying attention to the reality of mathematical modeling tasks and suggesting the need for authentic tasks that reflect students' daily lives. However, not only did previous studies focus on theoretical proposals for reality, but studies analyzing teachers' perceptions of reality and their competency to reflect reality in the task are insufficient. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze in-service mathematics teachers' perception of reality among the characteristics of tasks for mathematical modeling and the in-service mathematics teachers' competency for designing the mathematical modeling tasks. First of all, five criteria for satisfying the reality were established by analyzing literatures. Afterward, teacher training was conducted under the theme of mathematical modeling. Pre- and post-surveys for 41 in-service mathematics teachers who participated in the teacher training was conducted to confirm changes in perception of reality. The pre- and post- surveys provided a task that did not reflect reality, and in-service mathematics teachers determined whether the task given in surveys reflected reality and selected one reason for the judgment among five criteria for reality. Afterwards, frequency analysis was conducted by coding the results of the survey answered by in-service mathematics teachers in the pre- and post- survey, and frequencies were compared to confirm in-service mathematics teachers' perception changes on reality. In addition, the mathematical modeling tasks designed by in-service teachers were evaluated with the criteria for reality to confirm the teachers' competency for designing mathematical modeling tasks reflecting the reality. As a result, it was shown that in-service mathematics teachers changed from insufficient perception that only considers fragmentary criterion for reality to perceptions that consider all the five criteria of reality. In particular, as a result of analyzing the basis for judgment among in-service mathematics teachers whose judgment on reality was reversed in the pre- and post-survey, changes in the perception of in-service mathematics teachers was confirmed, who did not consider certain criteria as a criterion for reality in the pre-survey, but considered them as a criterion for reality in the post-survey. In addition, as a result of evaluating the tasks designed by in-service mathematics teachers for mathematical modeling, in-service mathematics teachers showed the competency to reflect reality in their tasks. However, among the five criteria for reality, the criterion for "situations that can occur in students' daily lives," "need to solve the task," and "require conclusions in a real-world situation" were relatively less reflected. In addition, it was found that the proportion of teachers with low task development competencies was higher in the teacher group who could not make the right judgment than in the teacher group who could make the right judgment on the reality of the task. Based on the results of these studies, this study provides implications for teacher education to enable mathematics teachers to apply mathematical modeling lesson in their classes.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.323-338
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• 2022

The purpose of this study are to analyze how well middle and high school students understand the concept definition of quadrangle and to explore the phenomenon about their concept image. A test tool was developed and 60 8th graders, 63 9^th graders and 65 10^th graders were tested, and some students who needed in-depth analysis were interviewed. The results are as follows. First, it cannot be said that understanding level of the concept definition of the quadrangle naturally improves as the grade level goes up. Particularly, it was found that the understanding of the definition of the rhombus is the lowest in all three grades compared to other quadrangle. Second, although female students understood the definition of square better than male students, the understanding level of the definition of trapezoid, parallelogram, rhombus, and rectangle did not differ by gender. Third, it was found that the students who did not understand the concept definition of the quadrangle were more and more influenced by the concept image as the grade level went up. Fourth, it showed that a tendency to be less influenced by the concept definition and more influenced by textbooks and teachers as the grades go up when students form a concept image.

• School Mathematics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 2014

This study investigated the degree of understanding pre-service teachers' random variable concept, based on the attention and the importance for developing pre-service teachers' ability on statistical reasoning in statistics education. To accomplish this, the subject of this study was 70 pre-service teachers belonged to three universities respectively. The teachers were given to 7 tasks on random variable and requested to solve them in 40 minutes. The tasks consisted of three contents in large; 1) one was on the definition of random variables, 2) the other was on the understanding of random variables in different/diverse conditions, and 3) another was on problem solving relevant to random variable concept. The findings are as follows. First, while 20% of pre-service teachers understood the definition of random variable correctly, most teachers could not distinguish between random variable and variable or probability. Second, there was a significant difference in understanding random variables in different/diverse conditions. Namely, the degree of understanding on the continuous random variable was superior to that of discrete random variable and also the degree of understanding on the equal distribution was superior to that of unequality distribution. Third, three types of problems relevant to random variable concept dealt with in this study were finding a sample space and an elementary event, and finding a probability value. In result, the teachers responded to the problem on finding a probability value most correctly and on the contrary to this, they had the mot difficulty in solving the problem on finding a sample space.