• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.309-327
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• 2003

In this paper, we deal with the teaching of algebra in the elementary school mathematics, and call this algebra teaching method as ‘early algebra’. Early algebra is appeared in the 1980's with the discussion of ‘algebraic thinking’. And many studies about early algebra is in progress since 1990's. These studies aims at reducing difficulties in the teaching of algebra and the development of algebra curriculum. We investigate the background of early algebra, and justify teaching of early algebra. Also we examine the projects and studies in progress around the world. Finally through these discussions, we compare our elementary textbooks with early algebra, and verify the characters of early algebra from our arithmetic curriculum.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.119-134
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• 2020

Korea, where the national curriculum is run, can change school education by specifying basic competence in the common curriculum of elementary and middle schools for students to pursue school learning and real life. The numeracy as a basic competence should not be limited to mathematics, so it needs to be specified in the national curriculum covering several subjects and guided through various subject curriculums. To this end, the study proposed concepts, components, and levels of numeracy and proposed ways to reflect them in the national curriculum and other subjects' curricula. To ensure its validity, the UK, Canada and Australia curriculum are analyzed, and the results of the survey are proposed for various education experts. This study proposed two ways to briefly state the numeracy in the national curriculum and to imply the contents related to the numeracy in each subject curriculum, and to present the concepts, components and levels of numeracy in the national curriculum in detail and to describe numeracy code in each subject curriculum. These suggestions obtained high consent from experts.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.393-419
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• 2020

Trigonometry allows us to recognize the usefulness of mathematics through connection with real life and other disciplines, and lays the foundation for the concept of higher mathematics through connection with trigonometric functions. Since international comparisons on the trigonometry area of textbooks can give implications to trigonometry teaching and learning in Korea, this study attempted to compare trigonometry in textbooks in Korea, Australia and Finland. In this study, through the horizontal and vertical analysis presented by Charalambous et al.(2010), the objectives of the curriculum, content system, achievement standards, learning timing of trigonometry content, learning paths, and context of problems were analyzed. The order of learning in which the three countries expanded size of angle was similar, and there was a difference in the introduction of trigonometric functions and the continuity of grades dealing with trigonometry. In the learning path of textbooks on the definition method of trigonometric ratios, the unit circle method was developed from the triangle method to the trigonometric function. However, in Korea, after the explanation using the quadrant in middle school, the general angle and trigonometric functions were studied without expanding the angle. As a result of analyzing the context of the problem, the proportion of problems without context was the highest in all three countries, and the rate of camouflage context problem was twice as high in Korea as in Australia or Finland. Through this, the author suggest to include the unit circle method in the learning path in Korea, to present a problem that can emphasize the real-life context, to utilize technological tools, and to reconsider the ways and areas of the curriculum that deal with trigonometry.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.227-246
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• 2024

The purposes of this study were to analyze the levels of cognitive demand and questioning types in tasks of 'Data and Chance' presented in elementary mathematics textbooks in Korea, the United States, and Australia. The levels of cognitive demand of textbook tasks were analyzed according to the knowledge and process and thinking types required in the tasks. The tasks were also analyzed for questioning types, answer types, and response types. As a result, in terms of knowledge and process and thinking types in tasks, all three countries had something in common: the percentage of tasks requiring 'representation' and process was the highest, and the percentage of tasks requiring 'basic application of skill/concept' was also the highest. From a thinking types perspective, differences were found between textbook tasks in the three countries in graph and chance learning. The results of analyzing questioning types showed that in all three textbooks, the percentage of observational reasoning questions was highest, followed by the percentage of factual questions. The proportions and characteristics of the constructing questions included in the U.S. and Australian textbooks differed from those in the Korean textbooks. Based on these results, this study presents implications for constructing elementary mathematics textbook tasks in 'Data and Chance.'

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.349-368
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• 2023

The revised 2022 educational curriculum highlighted the significance of mathematical literacy as a foundational competency that can be cultivated through the learning of various subjects, along with language proficiency and digital literacy. However, due to the lack of a precise definition for mathematical literacy, there exists a challenge in systematically implementing it across all subjects in the educational curriculum. The aim of this study is to clarify the definition of mathematical literacy in the curriculum through a literature review and to analyze the application patterns of mathematical literacy in other subjects so that mathematical literacy can be systematically applied as a basic literacy in Korea's curriculum. To achieve this, the study first clarifies and categorizes the meaning of mathematical literacy through a comparative analysis of terms such as numeracy and mathematical competence via a literature review. Subsequently, the study compares the categories of mathematical literacy identified in both domestic and international educational curricula and analyzes the application of mathematical literacy in the education curriculum of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, where mathematical literacy is reflected in the achievement standards across various subjects. It is expected that understanding each property by subdividing the meaning of mathematical literacy and examining the application modality to the curriculum will help construct a curriculum that reflects mathematical literacy in subjects other than mathematics.

• School Mathematics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.515-530
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• 2015

The concepts of sample and sampling are central to make a statistically correct decision, so we need to be emphasized their importance in the statistics education. Nevertheless, there were not enough studies which discuss how to teach the concepts of sample and sampling. In this study, teaching sample and sampling is addressed by foreign curricula and cases of instruction in order to obtain suggestions for teaching sample and sampling. In particular, the curricular of Australia, New Zealand, England and the United States are analyzed, considering the sample representativeness and the sampling variability; the two elements in the concept of sample. Also foreign textbooks and cases of instruction when it comes to teach sample are analyzed. The results say that with respect to teach sample can be divided into four suggestions: first, sample was taught in the process of statistical inquiry such as data collection, analysis, and results. Second, sample was introduced earlier than Korea curriculum. Third, when it comes to teach sample, sample variability, as well as sample representativeness was considered. Fourth, technological tools were used to enhance understanding sample.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.403-420
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• 2016

Some of the critical changes in the revised 2015 Korean Mathematics curriculum were that direct proportion and inverse proportion were moved from elementary school to middle school and that supplementary content related to correlation was included. These decisions were based on comparative studies of international curriculum. Therefore in this study, we selected countries for comparison; United States, England, France, Finland, Australia, Japan, Singapore, China and Taiwan. We looked into the timing and scope for direct/inverse proportion and correlation in curricula of these countries. Along with this, we established four criteria; vertical sequence, horizontal sequence, external connection, and internal connection for an analysis framework. Then we compared and analysed the direct/inverse proportion and correlation in each curriculum. As a result, in most of these curricula, the direct/inverse proportions are introduced at middle school or are introduced at elementary school and then developed further at middle school. Most of curriculums on direct/inverse proportion and correlation match the four criteria. Correlation is introduced in high school mathematics in all counties except Finland and it is dealt in diverse context introducing related concepts, for example, correlation coefficient, regression straight line, and least square. We suggested that it is necessary to refer these international trends for the next revision of curriculum.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.235-257
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• 2010

Contemporary belief is that the creative talented can create new knowledge and lead national development, so lots of countries in the world have interest in Gifted Education. As we well know, U.S.A., England, Russia, Germany, Australia, Israel, and Singapore enforce related laws in Gifted Education to offer Gifted Classes, and our government has also created an Improvement Act in January, 2000 and Enforcement Ordinance for Gifted Improvement Act was also announced in April, 2002. Through this initiation Gifted Education can be possible. Enforcement Ordinance was revised in October, 2008. The main purpose of this revision was to expand the opportunity of Gifted Education to students with special education needs. One of these programs is, the opportunity of Gifted Education to be offered to lots of the Gifted by establishing Special Classes at each school. Also, it is important that the quality of Gifted Education should be combined with the expansion of opportunity for the Gifted. Social opinion is that it will be reckless only to expand the opportunity for the Gifted Education, therefore, assessment on the Teaching and Learning Program for the Gifted is indispensible. In this study, 3 middle schools were selected for the Teaching and Learning Programs in mathematics. Each 1st Grade was reviewed and analyzed through comparative tables between Regular and Gifted Education Programs. Also reviewed was the content of what should be taught, and programs were evaluated on assessment standards which were revised and modified from the present teaching and learning programs in mathematics. Below, research issues were set up to assess the formation of content areas and appropriateness for Teaching and Learning Programs for the Gifted in mathematics. A. Is the formation of special class content areas complying with the 7th national curriculum? 1. Which content areas of regular curriculum is applied in this program? 2. Among Enrichment and Selection in Curriculum for the Gifted, which one is applied in this programs? 3. Are the content areas organized and performed properly? B. Are the Programs for the Gifted appropriate? 1. Are the Educational goals of the Programs aligned with that of Gifted Education in mathematics? 2. Does the content of each program reflect characteristics of mathematical Gifted students and express their mathematical talents? 3. Are Teaching and Learning models and methods diverse enough to express their talents? 4. Can the assessment on each program reflect the Learning goals and content, and enhance Gifted students' thinking ability? The conclusions are as follows: First, the best contents to be taught to the mathematical Gifted were found to be the Numeration, Arithmetic, Geometry, Measurement, Probability, Statistics, Letter and Expression. Also, Enrichment area and Selection area within the curriculum for the Gifted were offered in many ways so that their Giftedness could be fully enhanced. Second, the educational goals of Teaching and Learning Programs for the mathematical Gifted students were in accordance with the directions of mathematical education and philosophy. Also, it reflected that their research ability was successful in reaching the educational goals of improving creativity, thinking ability, problem-solving ability, all of which are required in the set curriculum. In order to accomplish the goals, visualization, symbolization, phasing and exploring strategies were used effectively. Many different of lecturing types, cooperative learning, discovery learning were applied to accomplish the Teaching and Learning model goals. For Teaching and Learning activities, various strategies and models were used to express the students' talents. These activities included experiments, exploration, application, estimation, guess, discussion (conjecture and refutation) reconsideration and so on. There were no mention to the students about evaluation and paper exams. While the program activities were being performed, educational goals and assessment methods were reflected, that is, products, performance assessment, and portfolio were mainly used rather than just paper assessment.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.79-95
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• 2009

Women engineering education programs in the United States, Europe and Australia were analyzed. From 1970s, these countries focused on the low representation of women in engineering, and carried out extensive research and programs. Numerous studies identified the causes of low representation as low interests in mathematics and science during K-12 years, classroom environments which treat women differently (often referred as chilly climate), and the masculine culture in engineering. Comprehensive approaches were taken in the development of the programs: the programs utilized the schools and universities as well as various local institutes, and the programs were designed not only for female students from elementary to graduate levels, but also for parents, teachers, professors, and school administrators. In order to adopt these programs in Korea, the problems that Korean female engineering students are facing in the education environment must be investigated first. Then, unified efforts to change the educational system, environments and culture are needed by all in engineering fields, along with nation-wide policies and funding.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.335-354
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore alternative ways of teaching derivatives in a way that emphasizes intuition. For this purpose, the contents related to derivatives in Korean curriculum and textbooks were analyzed by comparing with contents in Singapore Curriculum and textbooks. Singapore, where the curriculum deals with derivatives relatively earlier than Korea, introduces the concept of derivatives and differentiation as the slope of tangent instead of the rate of instantaneous change in textbook. Also, Singapore use technology and inductive extrapolation to emphasize intuition rather than form and logic. Further, from the results of the exploration of other foreign cases, we confirm that the UK and Australia also emphasized intuition in teaching derivatives and differentiation. Based on the results, we discuss the meaning and implication of introducing derivatives and teaching differentiation in a way that emphasizes intuition. Finally, we propose the implications for the alternative way of teaching differentiation.