• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.547-573
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• 2021

Capacity is a concept that has been covered in elementary mathematics textbooks but its meaning has not been accurately defined in the textbooks. Two units, liter (L) and milliliter (mL), are introduced as the units of capacity in the textbooks, but they are the units of volume according to the International System of Unit. These stimulated us to analyze what capacity is, and how the capacity is related to the concept of volume. This study scrutinized how the different elementary mathematics textbooks that were developed from the first national curriculum to the most recently revised curriculum introduced the capacity and explained the relationship between capacity and volume. This study also examined the understanding of capacity by elementary school teachers using a questionnaire. The results of this study showed that the concept of capacity has been mostly introduced in the third grade in common but that there were differences among textbooks in terms of how they presented and used the concept of capacity as well as whether they described its definition or relationship with the concept of volume. Regarding the results of teachers' understanding, most teachers could explain the capacity as either "the size of the inner space of the container" or "the amount that can be contained" but some of them provided only superficial or inappropriate feedback for the students with the common misunderstandings of capacity. Based on these results, this paper presents implications for textbook developers and teachers to better address the concept of capacity.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-48
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• 2024

In order to prepare for changes in future society, cross-curricular learning is emphasized, and the need to link cross-curricular learning topics and subjects is increasing. However, there are few studies on how to deal with cross-curricular learning in mathematics education. This study analyzed the contents and methods of cross-curricular learning topics in subject-specific curriculum and mathematics textbooks. As a result of the study, the curriculum can be categorized into four types according to the variety of cross-curricular learning topics applied and the presence or absence of a main cross-curricular learning topic, and the mathematics curriculum belongs to the type where some cross-curricular learning topics are dealt with passively and there is no main topic. On the other hand, the analysis of 10 math textbooks for grades 5 and 6 according to the 2015 revised curriculum showed that, unlike the curriculum, various cross-curricular learning topics were applied in the textbooks, mainly environment and sustainable development education, safety and health education, career education, character education, and economic and financial education. In addition, in mathematics textbooks, cross-curricular learning topics appeared in various types such as materials, questions, explanations, illustrations, and in many cases, they appeared mainly as materials or illustrations. Based on these findings, implications were explored and suggested on how to integrate and apply cross-curricular learning topics in mathematics.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.459-475
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• 2022

The equal sign and equivalence are the most basic and core concepts in elementary mathematics, but there has been lack of research on how to teach these concepts with textbooks. Given this, this study analyzed elementary mathematics textbooks in terms of three instructional elements (i.e., emphasizing the meaning of the equal sign as a relational symbol, dealing with an equation as an object for reasoning, and using an equation with a missing value). In particular, this study analyzed 10 different mathematics textbook series that are newly used in 2022 and examined the overall trends and characteristics for teaching the equal sign and equivalence. The results of this study showed that the activities emphasizing the meaning of the equal sign as a relational symbol were most noticeable but the activities dealing with an equation as an object for reasoning or using an equation with a missing value were relatively rare. Based on the results of the analysis, this study provides textbook writers with implications on what to further consider in covering the equal sign and equivalence.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.57-74
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• 2024

This paper analyzed the programming education specialized lessons presented in two types of elementary school mathematics textbooks according to the revised Japanese curriculum in 2017. First, this paper presented in detail how each activity is connected to Korean mathematics areas, what elements of mathematics can be learned through programming education, how each activity is structured, and how the actual programming according to the textbook activities is structured. In Japanese textbooks, geometry and measurement areas were presented the most among Korean mathematics content areas, and mathematical elements such as sequences, rules, and algorithms were most implemented for learning. Digital learning tools that make up actual programming present more elements than those presented in the textbooks and are presented in great detail so that students can do actual programming. Lastly, in blocks, motion, control, and calculation blocks were used a lot. Based on these research results, this study provides implications when conducting programming-related education in Korea.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 2013

'Sentence posing' is newly given in the third through sixth grade mathematics textbooks of the revised 2007 curriculum to confirm students' understanding on mathematical concepts of definitions. In this paper, we discuss the role of the sentence posing in the third grade mathematics textbooks on the basis of the problems occurred in third graders' sentence posing activities. Overall, it turned out that the role of the sentence posing was somewhat restrictive. Hence the sentence posing needs to be applied to check whether students can properly use the definitions in real life situations. In addition, it is necessary to employ the present role of the sentence posing to confirm students' understanding on mathematical concepts of definitions selectively according to the concepts of definitions.

• School Mathematics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.425-438
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• 2010

Wide employment of open questions is one of the notable features of Korean elementary school mathematics textbooks based on the national curriculum revised in 2007. This study closely looks into mathematics textbooks and teacher's guides for third and fourth graders in the revised curriculum, and discusses the ways those open questions are being presented and the assumed premises of the presentation. It then points out some problems associated with their contents and format, such as the problems with presentation contexts, question sentence styles, question sequences, and the like. Lastly, it summarizes the research issues for further study on open questions in terms of the meaning of open questions, guidelines for teachers, and the roles of teachers and textbooks.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.247-260
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• 2024

In real life, the concepts of number range and approximation are frequently used. These concepts are closely related to various mathematical concepts, and the need for research on the defining and learning of these related terms is emphasized. The learning contents of seven mathematical terms related to the range of numbers and approximation were analyzed, focusing on the definition of terms and the context of real life. As a result of analyzing the contents of 10 currently used elementary school mathematics textbooks, the lessons were organized according to the achievement standards presented in the curriculum, but the composition and order, real-life context, examples used in definitions, and the highlighted parts and directions of the activities varied depending on the author's intent. Based on the analysis results, implications for textbook writing and classroom instruction were presented.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-61
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• 2004

The seventh curriculum of mathematics which value much of the learners' participative activities became conspicuous by introducing a new system of ‘activities’ to the textbook in particular, Then I categorized and analyzed the ‘activities’ proposed in actual textbooks in the context of specific operative activities. The objective of this study is for understanding the features and trends of the activities proposed in textbooks.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.141-159
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• 2008

The purpose of this study id to delve into how elementary mathematics textbook deal with the quadrilaterals from a view of Didactic Transposition Theory. Concerning the instruction period and order, we have concluded the following: First, the instruction period and order of quadrilaterals were systemized when the system of Euclidian geometry was introduced, and have been modified a little bit since then, considering the psychological condition of students. Concerning the definition and presentation methods of quadrangles, we have concluded the following: First, starting from a mere introduction of shape, the definition have gradually formed academic system, as the requirements and systemicity were taken into consideration. Second, when presenting and introducing the definition, quadrilaterals were connected to real life. Concerning the contents and methods of instruction, we have concluded the following: First, the subject of learning has changed from textbook and teachers to students. Second, when presenting and introducing the definition, quadrilaterals were connected to real life. Third, when instructing the characteristics and inclusive relation, students could build up their knowledge by themselves, by questions and concrete operational activities. Fourth, constructions were aimed at understanding of the definition and characteristics of the figures, rather than at itself.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.171-199
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• 2022

In this study, we review contents to supplement the descriptions of the history of mathematics in the 2015 mathematics textbooks and teacher guides for the elementary school level and offer our opinion on them. For this purpose, we conducted a literature review on 24 types of 2015 mathematics textbooks and teacher guides for the elementary school level. The results of this study are as follows: A total of 10 topics were found whose contents were supplemented with descriptions. They were the "Arithmetic of the Ancient Egyptians," the "A'h-mosè Papyrus in Mathematics Textbooks of the Ancient Egyptians," "The Old Akkadian Square Band in Mesopotamia," "The Relationship of the Old Babylonians in Mesopotamia with the Angle," "The Pi of the Ancient Egyptians and the Old Babylonians," "The Square Roots 2 of the Ancient Egyptians and the Old Babylonians," "The Relationship of the Islamites with the Decimal Fraction," "Two Arguments for the Roots of the Golden Ratio," "The Relationship of Archimedes with the Exhaustion Method," and "The Design of Flats." Then, their specific supplements were suggested. It is expected that this will overcome the perspective of the history of the Axial Age and acknowledge and accept the perspective evidencing the transfer of mathematical culture from Ancient Egypt and Old Babylonia to Ancient Greece and Hellenism, and then through Central Asia to Europe.