• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.201-219
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• 2007

To understand the structure and dynamics of different forms of learning, whether incidental or conscious, we have to study them as parts or aspects of concrete historical activities with specifiable contexts. This realization is more embodied in apprenticeship learning situations of the student teachers. In this perspective, this paper aims to understand the student teachers' experience on geography teaching as a participant observer in the secondary schools. The 9 student teachers during the teaching internship have written their 38 journals, which was quality analysed to find out key concepts for the purpose of this research. Major conclusions are suggested below as follows. First, the most student teachers were experienced in geography teaching in the secondary schools through the 2-weeks practice teaching. Second, in the positive perspective, student teachers observed on that teachers would teaching well interact with student and experienced teachers would settle down to student's studies. Third, in the negative perspective, student teachers observed on that teachers lecture with only text, and cooperative learning by student presentation in the geography class. Finally, In third person perspective, there is no students' or teachers' productive questions in the whole-class conversation. In addition to that the most mentor teachers lecture do all of the talking in class. In effect these student teachers' experiences, especially 'reality of the geography teaching' and 'practical knowledge of the novice mentor teachers or experienced mentor teachers', either reinforce or modify understanding about the geography teaching practices.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.453-475
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• 2007

School algebra starts with introducing algebraic expressions which have been one of the cognitive obstacles to the students in the transfer from arithmetic to algebra. In the recent studies on the teaching school algebra, algebraic thinking is getting much more attention together with algebraic expressions. In this paper, we examined the processes of the transfer from arithmetic to algebra and ways for teaching early algebra through algebraic thinking factors. Issues about algebraic thinking have continued since 1980's. But the theoretic foundations for algebraic thinking have not been founded in the previous studies. In this paper, we analyzed the algebraic thinking in school algebra from historico-genetic, epistemological, and symbolic-linguistic points of view, and identified algebraic thinking factors, i.e. the principle of permanence of formal laws, the concept of variable, quantitative reasoning, algebraic interpretation - constructing algebraic expressions, trans formational reasoning - changing algebraic expressions, operational senses - operating algebraic expressions, substitution, etc. We also identified these algebraic thinking factors through analyzing mathematics textbooks of elementary and middle school, and showed the middle school students' low achievement relating to these factors through the algebraic thinking ability test. Based upon these analyses, we argued that the readiness for algebra learning should be made through the processes including algebraic thinking factors in the elementary school and that the transfer from arithmetic to algebra should be accomplished naturally through the pre-algebra course. And we searched for alternative ways to improve algebra curriculums, emphasizing algebraic thinking factors. In summary, we identified the problems of school algebra relating to the transfer from arithmetic to algebra with the problem of teaching algebraic thinking and analyzed the algebraic thinking factors of school algebra, and searched for alternative ways for improving the transfer from arithmetic to algebra and the teaching of early algebra.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.600-616
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• 2011

Since the Shimane Prefecture government in Japan enacted "Takeshima Day" in March 2005, it has held commemorative ceremonies with Japanese politicians present each year on February 22. Japan has marked Dokdo as its territory in elementary and middle high school textbooks, and the number of such references has been increasing in recent years. Shimane Prefecture, which is the area nearest to Dokdo is strengthening Dokdo education in its geography classes at elementary and middle schools as part of regional studies. The study and education on Dokdo was begun by social studies teachers in the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture, but now extends throughout the prefecture. The auxiliary educational materials regarding Dokdo produced in Shimane Prefecture include teaching guidelines for teachers, worksheets for students, CDs containing statistics and picture files, and two kinds of DVD movie clips for each grade. In particular, schools teach the damage to the Japanese fishery industry caused by Korea's illegal occupation of Dokdo. This will likely form anti-Korean sentiments among Japanese students. It is hoped that Korean and Japanese scholars will work together to develop Dokdo auxiliary textbooks in order to improve the correct historical understanding of Dokdo.