• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2015

This study aims to analyze how the history of mathematics is used in Chinese mathematics textbooks. As a framework for analysis, we categorized nine types of using the history of mathematics in textbooks. We analyzed 18 mathematics textbooks for Chinese elementary and middle schools. As a result, we found that various types of using the history of mathematics were adopted in Chinese textbooks except for explorations of mathematical errors in history. We also noticed three characteristics: preference to using for motivation and reading matters in elementary school levels, high frequencies of using problems from traditional mathematical books and origins of mathematical concepts or symbols, and emphasis on ethnic superiority through the Chinese traditional mathematics. Based on the results of analysis, we discussed and induced some implications for using the history in our mathematics textbooks.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2003

Representation has been main topic in teaching and learning mathematics for a long time. Moreover, teachers' deficiency of representation about fraction results in teaching algorithms without conceptual understanding. So, this paper was conducted to investigate and analysize the elementary preservice mathematics teachers' representation about fraction. 38 elementary preservice mathematics teachers participated in this study. This study results showed that, the only model of a fraction that was familiar to the preservice teachers was the part of whole one. And research showed that, they solved the problems about fraction well using algorithms but seldom express the sentence which illustrates the meaning of the operation by a fraction. Specially, the division aspect of a fraction was not familiar nor readily accepted. It menas that preservice teachers are used to using algorithms without a conceptual understanding of the meaning of the operation by a fraction. This results give us some implications. Most of all, teaching programs in preservice mathematics teachers education have to devise to form a network among the concepts in relation to fraction. And we must emphasize how to teach and what to teach in preservice mathematics teachers education course. Finally, we have to invent the various materials which can be used to educate both preservice teachers and elementary school students. If we want to improve the mathematical ability of students, we will concentrate preservice teachers education.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.235-255
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• 2017

This study compared and contrasted the topics related to congruence and symmetry in the elementary mathematics textbooks series of Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Finland, and Singapore in three aspects: (a) when to teach, (b) what to teach, and (c) how to teach. Firstly, the results of when to teach showed differences across the countries with a variation of teaching the topics among grades from 3 to 6. Secondly, the results of what to teach revealed subtle but significant differences. Regarding congruence, Korea and Japan deal with congruence in a systematic manner, while Finland tends to address the brief definition of congruence, and Hong Kong and Singapore focus on teaching tessellation which implies congruence. Regarding symmetry, Korea and Japan deal only with a symmetric figure for a line and that for a point, while Hong Kong includes a rotational symmetry and Finland extends further to cover the figures positioned in a symmetry both for a line and for a point. Lastly, the results of how to teach demonstrated that Korea tends to focus on the procedure of drawing both triangles to be congruent and symmetric figures. This implies that we need to consider alternative methods such as using various instructional materials and making an explicit connection among mathematical concepts in teaching congruence and symmetry.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-28
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• 2002

This study explored teachers (n = 219) from northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan concerning their views about children's learning difficulties, mathematical instruction and school mathematics curricular. Results showed that teachers' mathematics knowledge or their instruction methods had no significant influence on their views of children's learning difficulties. Even though teachers indicated that understanding of abstract mathematical concepts was the most prominent difficulty for children, they tended to employ direct instruction rather than constructive and cooperative problem solving in their teaching. However, teachers' views of children's learning difficulties did influence their instructional practice. Results from in-dept interviews revealed that there were some obstacles that prevented teachers from putting constructiveism perspectives of instruction into teaching practice. Further investigation is needed to develop a better understanding of epistemology and teaming psychology as well as to help teachers create constructive learning situations.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.91-106
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• 2015

The purpose of this study were to develop a M-STEAM program for first grades in elementary school and investigate the effects of the program on their learning motivation for the math subject and creative personality. For those purpose, this study set the following research questions. Research Question 1 : How will a M-STEAM program be devised applicable to first grades in elementary school? Research Question 2 : What kind of effect does a M-STEAM program have on the learning motivation and creative personality of students? The findings were as follows: First, lesson contents were reorganized by keeping the Unit 3 in the second semester of first grade in the current math curriculum under the convergence theme of "Build an environment friendly future city" to which the STEAM elements were added. Developed program promoted mathematical thinking ability for problem solving in the process of operating the number of blocks. Through the M-STEAM program, convergence thinking was created from a new perspective by exerting creativity in such process. Second, the STEAM program had effects on the learning motivation and creative personality of first graders in math subject. The t-test results show that the STEAM program developed in this study increased the fun and interest of students, helped with their concentration, and promoted their understanding of mathematical concepts. Therefore the M-STEAM program had positive impacts on the learning motivation and creative personality of first graders in math learning.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 2018

Angle concepts have a multifaceted nature such as quantitative aspects as the amount of rotation, qualitative aspects as geometric shapes, and relationship aspects made with planes or lines. This study analysed angle concepts and introduction methods of angles in elementary mathematics textbooks which have been used from the Syllabus Period to the 2015 Revised Mathematics Curriculum. First, the concepts of angles in mathematics textbooks focus through the definitions, representations, and components of angles presented in mathematics textbooks are analyzed. Secondly, how various aspects of each angle are sequenced through the tasks or activties in the introduction of lesson is looked. As a result of analysis, the methods of introducing angles in the changes of mathematics textbooks have mainly focused on learning about geometric shapes and relations of components. In the mathematics classroom, students should experience various aspects of geometric shapes, rotations, relational aspects of points, lines and surfaces, and support and link them to form a wide range of concepts.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.157-174
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• 2021

This study analyzed the process of establishing a social structure in a third-grade mathematics classroom for one semester and explored learning processes based on various social interactions and relationships between the teacher and students. In the early phase of the semester, main foci were placed on establishing an overall social norms and basic social structure for effective mathematical learning. In the middle phase of the semester, an emphasis among students' interactions was given to exploration of mathematical concepts. Students tended to ask whatever they did not know exactly and clearly understood what to explain. In the late phase of the semester, students' individual disposition was further considered. Disciplinary personality traits including intellectual courage, honesty, consideration, and cooperation were emphasized along with mathematical exploration. Based on these research results, this study was intended to provide implications for implementing more meaningful mathematics lessons by fully considering not only mathematical connections but also social connections.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.159-173
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• 2016

In real educational field, there are cases that concrete problematic situations are introduced after abstract concepts are taught on the contrary to process that abstract from concrete contexts. In other words, there are cases that abstract knowledge has to be concreted. Freudenthal expresses this situation to antidogmatical inversion and indicates negative opinion. However, it is open to doubt that every class situation can proceed to abstract that begins from concrete situations or concrete materials. This study has done a comparative analysis in difference of mathematical thinking between a process that builds abstract context after being abstracted from concrete materials and that concretes abstract concepts to concrete situations and attempts to examine educational implication. For this, this study analyzed the mathematical thinking in the abstract process of concrete materials by manipulating AiC analysis tools. Based on the AiC analysis tools, this study analyzed mathematical thinking in the concrete process of abstract concept by using the way this researcher came up with. This study results that these two processes have opposite learning flow each other and significant mathematical thinking can be induced from concrete process of abstract knowledge as well as abstraction of concrete materials.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.223-234
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• 2003

Children interest themselves in all different toys they see, before beginning to speak. The psychological reasons for children′s interest in toys have been investigated for a long time. Thus many scientists have studied on the question "what is game？", but they have not reached a consensus yet. Such contradiction may be dependent upon different points of view of the researchers about game. Besides, the view of game of a child and an adult is different too. According to an adult game is a rebirth and escape from monotony. For child it is a work. The aim of this study is to make mathematics regarding a mass of abstract concepts for the students of grade 1-3 of primary school in the concrete operations period, more attractive with the help of educational and instructional games, and to contribute to student′s developing. The capability of thinking and producing by changing abstract concepts into concrete ones.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.635-652
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• 2023

This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the curricular progression of the concepts and learning sequences of 'lines', specifically, 'line segments', 'straight lines', and 'rays', at the elementary school level. By examining mathematics curricula and textbooks, spanning from 2nd to 7th and 2007, 2009, 2015, and up to 2022 revised version, the study investigates the timing and methods of introducing these essential geometric concepts. It also explores the sequential delivery of instruction and the key focal points of pedagogy. Through the analysis of shifts in the timing and definitions, it becomes evident that these concepts of lines have predominantly been integrated as integral components of two-dimensional plane figures. This includes their role in defining the sides of polygons and the angles formed by lines. This perspective underscores the importance of providing ample opportunities for students to explore these basic geometric entities. Furthermore, the definitions of line segments, straight lines, and rays, their interrelations with points, and the relationships established between different types of lines significantly influence the development of these core concepts. Lastly, the study emphasizes the significance of introducing fundamental mathematical concepts, such as the notion of straight lines as the shortest distance in line segments and the concept of lines extending infinitely (infiniteness) in straight lines and rays. These ideas serve as foundational elements of mathematical thinking, emphasizing the necessity for students to grasp concretely these concepts through visualization and experiences in their daily surroundings. This progression aligns with a shift towards the comprehension of Euclidean geometry. This research suggests a comprehensive reassessment of how line concepts are introduced and taught, with a particular focus on connecting real-life exploratory experiences to the foundational principles of geometry, thereby enhancing the quality of mathematics education.