• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.161-194
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to look into sub-factors of spatial sense that can be contained in spatial sense of solid figure of mathematics curriculum and offer suggestions to improve teaching spatial sense of solid figures in the future. In order to attain these purposes, this study examined the meaning and sub-factors of spatial sense and the relations between spatial sense of solid figure and sub-factors of spatial sense through a theoretical consideration regarding various studies on spatial sense. Based on such examination, this study compared and analyzed textbooks used in South Korea, Finland and the Netherlands with respect to contents of mathematics curriculum and textbooks in grades, sub-factors of spatial sense, and realistic contexts for spatial sense of solid figure. In the light of such theoretical consideration and analytical results, this study provided suggestions for improving teaching spatial sense of solid figures in elementary schools in Korea as follows: extending contents regarding spatial sense of solid figures in mathematics curriculum and considering continuity between grades in textbooks, emphasizing spatial orientation as well as spatial visualization, underlining not only construction with blocks but also mental activities in mental rotation and mental transformation, comparing strength and weakness of diverse plane representations of three dimensional objects, and utilizing various realistic situations and objects in space.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.549-568
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• 2010

This paper analyzed the topics dealing with three-dimensional figures in most recently revised mathematics textbooks on the basis of the national mathematics curriculum announced in 2007. First, the overall content was analyzed with regard to how textbooks were aligned to the curriculum as well as how the main elements including the definitions of specific solid figures were introduced and developed in different units across grades. Second, the instructional methods of three-dimensional figures were analyzed, which specifically revealed the lack of inquiry phase before introducing cones and pyramids. Third, the instructional methods to foster students' spatial sense with solid figures were analyzed, which showed the increased focus on the prediction and representation of figures. It is expected that the issues and suggestions from this study are informative revising curricular materials and applying them to the classroom.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.199-220
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• 2018

This is a traditional education content that has been consistently handled in elementary school mathematics textbooks since the first curriculum in Korea. It has been mainly used to find out the properties of the solid figure or to save the surface area. However, as the importance of spatial ability is increasingly emphasized, the nets of solids can be a very suitable learning material for dealing with the spatial ability. Therefore, in this study, we examined how the nets of solids were taught in elementary school mathematics curriculum and textbooks in Korea, and based on the analysis, we analyzed the contents of the nets of solids covered in textbooks of Japan, Singapore, Finland and Hong Kong. Through this study, we suggested the enhancement of activities to find the right nets, the presentation of solid figure from various angles, and the nets of solids with patterns for improvement of spatial visualization and spatial orientation.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.655-678
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• 2010

In the elementary mathematics, geometric education emphasize spatial sense and understandings of figures through development of intuitions in space. Especially space visualization is one of the factors which try conclusion with geometric problem solving. But studies about space visualization are limited to middle school geometric education, studies in elementary level haven't been done until now. Namely, discussions about elementary students' space visualization process and methods in plane or space figures is deficient in relation to geometric problem solving. This paper examines these aspects, especially in relation to plane and space problem solving in elementary levels. First, we investigate visualization methods for plane problem solving and space problem solving respectively, and analyse in diagram form how progress understanding of figures and visualization process. Next, we derive constituent factor on visualization process, and make a check errors which represented by difficulties in visualization process. Through these analysis, this paper aims at deriving an influence of visualization on geometric problem solving in the elementary mathematics.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.71-80
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• 2017

The standards for achievement levels for building blocks in elementary geometry class is to enhance spatial cognitive ability through practices describing shape patterns of building blocks observed from different directions. However, most of building block in the textbook is described from only one perspective. Even worse, some examples in the textbook are almost impossible to observe in the real world. Contrary to this, simulated views by Wings3D has shown that each box may look quite differently from different angles let alone the size of each box. Using Wings3D, it is also very easy to build different types of building blocks with various levels of difficulty in the virtual space. Based on these results, in this study, 3D visualization SW is suggested as a potential pedagogical tool for the elementary geometry class to help kids perceive objects in space more precisely. We have shown that 3D visualization SW such as Wings3D could be a powerful, compact 3D SW for most of subjects which are covered in elementary geometry education. Wings3D has another advantage of economic open source SW fully compatible with school PCs.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.425-441
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• 2009

The cube-accumulation is a new theme included in the 7th elementary mathematics curriculum for improving children's spatial ability. One activity of the cube-accumulation is to recognize the configuration of accumulated cube given three plane figures in the directions of the above, the front and the side, respectively. The approach to this activity presented in the mathematics textbook is more or less intuitive and constructive, and difficult to some children. So we suggest an alternative, more analytic method, 'elimination method', that is eliminating unnecessary parts from $n{\times}n{\times}n$ whole cubes. This method was adopted to the 32 sixth graders, in special five applicants among them. Their responses and activities were analyzed. We confirm that we can teach the cube-accumulation by the elimination method, and some children prefer this method. 13u1 this method requires more exercises to be executed skillfully.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.255-272
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• 2024

This study aims to design mathematics-integrated classes that cultivate artificial intelligence (AI) thinking and to analyze students' AI thinking within these classes. To do this, four classes were designed through the integration of the AI4K12 Initiative's AI Big Ideas with the 2015 revised elementary mathematics curriculum. Implementation of three classes took place with 5th and 6th grade elementary school students. Leveraging the computational thinking taxonomy and the AI thinking components, a comprehensive framework for analyzing of AI thinking was established. Using this framework, analysis of students' AI thinking during these classes was conducted based on classroom discourse and supplementary worksheets. The results of the analysis were peer-reviewed by two researchers. The research findings affirm the potential of mathematics-integrated classes in nurturing students' AI thinking and underscore the viability of AI education for elementary school students. The classes, based on AI Big Ideas, facilitated elementary students' understanding of AI concepts and principles, enhanced their grasp of mathematical content elements, and reinforced mathematical process aspects. Furthermore, through activities that maintain structural consistency with previous problem-solving methods while applying them to new problems, the potential for the transfer of AI thinking was evidenced.