• Journal of Creative Information Culture
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.295-306
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• 2019

Despite the popularity and convenient accessibility of puzzles, the variety of puzzles have led to a lack of research on the nature of the puzzle itself. In guiding certain skills, such as abstractness, creativity, and logic, a teacher should have the thinking skill and strategy that appear in solving puzzles. In this study, the mathematical thinking that appears in solving puzzles from the perspective of experts is identified, and the strategies and characteristics are described and classified accordingly. For this purpose, we analyzed 85 math puzzles including the well-know puzzles to the public, plus puzzles from a popular book for the gifted student. The research analysis shows that there are 6 types of mathematics puzzles in which require mathematical thinking.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to discuss the way and the purpose of presenting math puzzles in classroom. Firstly, the characteristics of math puzzles are discussed and the various uses of math puzzles are looked for. Secondly, The author illustrates models of classroom teaching with puzzles. Thirdly, The author discusses what subjects of mathematics could be dealt with in the math puzzle classroom. Finally, The author indicates that the teaching with math puzzles give chance of feeling 'mathematical composure' not only to students but also to teachers.

• School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.97-109
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• 2002

In this paper, tangram-like puzzles which are made by dissecting square are introduced. Especially, tangram-like puzzles which are consists of five pieces, six pieces, seven pieces, eight pieces, nine pieces, ten pieces, twelve pieces, fourteen pieces are introduced. But, This Introduction is very superficial. It means introduction is focused on each piece's geometrical shape, relative area when each tangram-like puzzles' area is one. With this introduction, six tangram-like puzzles' implication in mathematics education are suggested as followings. (1) Tangram-like puzzles may help fostering spatial senses. (2) Tangram-like puzzles may help teaching polygons, and its properties, congruences, similarities, etc. (3)Tangram-like puzzles may help teaching additions of fractions. (4) Tangram-like puzzles may help fostering mathematical thinking. (5) Tangram-like puzzles may serve as topics for supplement or reinforcement in teaching and learning tangram. (6) Tangram-like puzzles may serve as topics for problem posing in teaching and learning tangram.

• School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.283-296
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• 2002

In this study we tried to find the method of using the tangrams and the mosaic puzzles together for learning the elementary geometry in the Korean primary schools. The tangram and the mosaic puzzle activity-panels were developed and the activity-cards for them also were designed. The criteria to be used for the analyses of contents of the activity-cards were developed. We surveyed and analyzed the students' responses, A previous research had insisted that solely using the tangrams were not useful in learning about an obtuse-angled triangle in the elementary geometry (Welchman, 1999), but the combinative uses of the tangrams and the mosaic puzzles were found to extend the limits of the previous study in investigating the figures of the plain diagrams. Actually, the tangrams and the mosaic puzzles helped the students to learn the concepts of several elements of the plain diagrams such as 'angles', 'sides', and 'angular points', with students'operational comparison of the diagrams developed with them. They also provided useful clues in learning the relationship between the 'length' and the 'area' of the Plain diagrams. The students participated in the class with much activities, using the operational learning materials. They also comprehended the concepts and the principles of the elementary geometry more thoroughly, expressing their ideas in spoken or written languages through interactive communication. In conclusion, the tangram and mosaic puzzles can be used for learning the elementary geometry of the primary school level as motivative learning materials, helping students enhance diverse mathematical thinking and discover mathematical principles.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-72
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• 2007

Recently, dissection puzzles such as pentominoes have been used in mathematics education. But they are not actively applicable as a tool of problem solving or introducing mathematical concepts since researches about the historical background and developments of mathematical applications of such puzzles have not been effectively accomplished. In this article, in order to use pentominoes in mathematical teaming effectively, we first investigate geometric problems related to dissection puzzles and the historic background of development of pentominoes. And then we collect and classify data related to pentomino activities which can be applicable to mathematics classes based on the 7th elementary school national curriculum. Finally, we suggest several basic materials and directions to develop more systematic learning materials about pentominoes.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.567-581
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• 2010

The basic direction of mathematical education for a 21st century is focused on helping student to understand mathematics and develop their problem solving abilities, mathematical dispositions and mathematical thinking. Elementary mathematics teachers should help students make sense of mathematics, confident of their ability, and make learning environment comfortable for students to participate in. The best way is to provide chances to play a game for students, considering educational value of game and new directions for mathematical education. Therefore I would like to develop an mathematical game to conform mathematical ideas, and apply it, as well as strengthen students' mathematical disposition such as confidence, flexibility, interest and curiosity to improve quality of mathematical education. If students are helped to be interested in mathematics through mathematical games, they regard mathematics as interesting and challengeable subject to let themselves think many ways.

• Lingua Humanitatis
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.301-319
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• 2002

In a recent paper, I have proposed an analysis concerning propositions and 'that'-clauses as a solution to Kripke's puzzle and other similar puzzles, which I now call 'the Indefinite Description Analysis of Belief Ascription Sentences.' I have listed some of the major advantages of this analysis besides its merit as a solution to the puzzles: it is amenable to the direct-reference theory of proper names; it does not nevertheless need to introduce Russellian (singular) propositions or any other new entities. David Lewis has constructed an interesting argument to refute this analysis. His argument seems to show that my analysis has an unwelcome consequence: if someone believes any proposition, then he or she should, ipso facto, believe any necessary (mathematical or logical) proposition (such as the proposition that 1 succeeds 0). In this paper, I argue that Lewis's argument does not pose a real threat to my analysis. All his argument shows is that we should not accept the assumption called 'the equivalence thesis': if two sentences are equivalent, then they express the same proposition. I argue that this thesis is already in trouble for independent reasons. Especially, I argue that if we accept the equivalence thesis then, even without my analysis, we can derive a sentence like 'Fred believes that 1 succeeds 0 and snow is white' from a sentence like 'Fred believes that snow is white.' The consequence mentioned above is not worse than this consequence.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.575-595
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• 2006

In this paper, we investigated the effects of mathematics classes using play-action programs in the course of mathematics education of future elementary school teachers. This study was conducted with 43 junior university students who selected 'Play Mathematics' in 2006. All the participants in this course was divided 11 groups. Play-action mathematics programs was consisted of 12 themes. For example, there was tangram, somacube, hexamino, tessellation, geoboard etc. In the beginning of lessons, we investigated theses themes itself through plays, puzzles, games, and computer programs. And next time, we investigated the relationships between these themes and elementary mathematic textbooks(i.e. mathematical contents). In 14th and 15th lessons, all the groups took a project presentation lessons that included all things about play mathematics in all group categories. And they developed two themes of play mathematics in accordance with grades, contents, levels as course tasks. Through this study, three educational effects induced. First, future elementary school teachers have a deep understanding about play-action mathematics. They are interested in these play themes, and take part in these play mathematics programs of their own accord. And they realize that these play themes are related to elementary mathematics. Second, future elementary school teachers' attitude and mind about mathematical are improved after this course. Third, future elementary school teachers comprehend various instruction methods relating to play mathematics. Therefore, we suggest that future elementary school teachers need to have many opportunity to experience and develop a mathematics classes using play mathematics.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to analyze the articulation between the kindergarten and 1st grade in mathematics education. for this purpose, the problems of this study selected as follows ：(ⅰ) What is the mathematical concepts related between the kindergarten curriculum and the 1st grade curriculum\ulcorner (ⅱ) How is the mathematics classroom in the kindergarten and 1st grade\ulcorner (ⅲ) Which instructional materials are used in the kindergarten and the 1st grade\ulcorner (ⅳ) What is the new direction of articulation between the kindergarten and first grade in mathematics education\ulcorner The results of this study are as follows ： (ⅰ) According to examining each curriculum the focus is on understanding the basic concepts of number in the kindergarten, on the concepts of number, addition and subtraction in the 1st grade. (ⅱ) By being analyzed the mathematics classrooms of the kindergarten and the 1 st grade, it is different the focus of lessons or the teaching strategies. (ⅲ) As a result of analysing the teaching plans in the kindergarten and the survey in the first grade teachers, used instructional materials are manipulative ones. While mainly used materials are puzzles and blocks in kindergarten, a paduk stone, number cards, sankagi are used in 1st grade. (ⅳ) Finally, we propose the direction of articulation between the kindergarten and 1st grade in mathematics education.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-134
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• 2011

The purpose of this research was to analyze mathematical task types to enhance creativity. Creativity is increasingly important in every field of disciplines and industries. To be excel in the 21st century, students need to have habits to think creatively in mathematics learning. The method of the research was to collect the previous research and papers concerning creativity and mathematics. To search the materials, the researcher used the search engines such as the GIL and the KISTI. The mathematical task types to enhance creativity were categorized 16 different types according to their forms and characteristics. The types of tasks include (1) requiring various strategies, (2) requiring preferences on strategies, (3) making word problems, (4) making parallel problems, (5) requiring transforming problems, (6) finding patterns and making generalization, (7) using open-ended problems, (8) asking intuition for final answers, (9) asking patterns and generalization (10) requiring role plays, (11) using literature, (12) using mathematical puzzles and games, (13) using various materials, (14) breaking patterned thinking, (15) integrating among disciplines, and (16) encouraging to change our lives. To enhance students' creativity in mathematics teaching and learning, the researcher recommended the followings: reshaping perspectives toward teaching and learning, developing and providing creativity-rich tasks, applying every day life, using open-ended tasks, using various types of tasks, having assessment ability, changing assessment system, and showing and doing creative thinking and behaviors of teachers and parents.