• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.747-770
• /
• 2012

In this study, we develop the mathematical modeling teaching materials focused function units of mathematics textbooks and establish the appropriate teaching and learning model. Using mathematical modeling materials and developed instructional materials for teaching high school students is aimed to improve the academic achievement, mathematical attitude and fear. The problem of this study is as follows : First, between the groups using mathematical modeling and a traditional textbook teaching academic achievement groups showed that there is a difference? Second, between the groups using mathematical modeling and a traditional textbook teaching mathematics between groups showed that there is a difference of mathematical attitude and fear? Third, what are the lessons for the students' responses using mathematical modeling?

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.263-279
• /
• 2010

Teachers' personal knowledge (PK) is an element in their pedagogic-practical knowledge. This study exposes the PK of primary school mathematics teachers regarding solid geometry through reflection. Students are exposed to solid geometry on various levels, from kindergarten age and above. Previous studies attested to the fact that students encounter difficulties-strong dislike and fear engendered by geometry. A good number of teachers have strong dislike to solid geometry, as well. Therefore, those engaged in teaching the subject must address the problem and try to overcome these difficulties. In this paper we have introduced the reflective process among teachers in primary school, including application of Van-Hiele's theory to solid geometry.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.123-133
• /
• 1999

For an appropriate assessment in mathematics, students should play an active role in their learning by becoming aware of what they have learned in mathematics and by being able to assess their attainment of mathematical knowledge. The process of actively examining and monitoring students' own progress in learning and understanding of their mathematical knowledge, process, and attitude is called self-assessment, Researchers in mathematics education have found some important facts about the meta-cognitive process which is related to self-assessment : i. e. meta-cognition progress is composed of being aware of ones' own personal thinking of content knowledge and cognitive process(self-awareness) and engagement in self-evaluation. Tipical method for self-assessment in mathematics developed upon above finding about meta-cognitive progress is describing about students' knowledge and their problem solving strategies. In the beginning of the description in mathematics about themselves, students are required to answer which part they know and which part they don't know. Self-assessment of students' attitudes and dispositions can be just as important as assessment of their specific mathematical abilities. To make the self-assessment method a success, teachers should let students' have confidence and earn their cooperation by let them overcoming fear to be known the their ability to other students. In conclusion, self-assessment encourages students to assume an active role in development of mathematical power. For teachers, student self-assessment activities can provide a prism through which the development of students' mathematical power can be viewed.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.107-118
• /
• 2001

Mathematics subject of the seventh national curriculum in Korea, which has been effective since 2000, strongly encourages the use of calculators and computers to help children gain a better understanding of basic mathematical concepts and develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills without spending too much time and effort on making mechanical computations. Despite the recommendation by the national curriculum, however, only a small segment of elementary school teachers have been using calculators because of the fear that children\\`s dependence on calculators might bring about negative consequences. As a result, little research has been conducted in this area as well. This study has been conducted on the assumption that calculators have the potential for being a useful instructional tool in certain areas of elementary school mathematics education. To investigate the usefulness of calculators, a review was made of the scanty literature in the area. The literature review indicated that calculators are effective when they are used for the following purposes: understanding concepts and properties in numbers and operations, deducing mathematical rules, and solving problems. In view of the available research finding, we will give some concrete learning and teaching models of such uses of calculators. The teaching-learning models are organized around three categories: concept formation, discovery of principles and rules, and problem solving. Such organization is intended to help teachers use the models with ease.

• Research in Mathematical Education
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.361-380
• /
• 2010

Some 400 Secondary One (i.e. seventh-grade) students from 10 schools were provided with non-routine mathematical problems in their normal mathematics classes as exercises for one academic year. Their attitudes toward mathematics, their conceptions of mathematics and their problem-solving performance were measured both in the beginning and at the end of the year. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the introduction of an appropriate dose of non-routine problems would generate some effects on the students' conceptions of mathematics. A medium dose of non-routine problems (as reported by the teachers) would result in a change of the students' conception of mathematics to perceiving mathematics as less of "a subject of calculables." On the other hand, a high dose would lead students to perceive mathematics as more useful and more as a discipline involving thinking. However, with a low dose of non-routine problems, students found mathematics more "friendly" (free from fear). It is therefore proposed that the use of non-routine mathematical problems to an appropriate extent can induce changes in students' "lived space" of mathematics learning and broaden their conceptions of mathematics and mathematics learning.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 1986

At present, Japanese textbooks of mathematics for elementary and secondary schools are thorized by the Ministry of Education. In former days, this system was also in effect for mentary schools until 1905 and for secondary schools until 1944. this article we discuss the start and the change of this system until 1905 and its influences the textbooks of mathematics. The main interest of the system was originally to prevent the textbooks from having the pressions which have the fear of breaking laws, disturbing the public morals or mistaking real facts. The interest changed to assure that the textbooks might comply with the ional standards of teaching syllabuses. And the standards such as the ones of the sizes of ers in the textbooks were made public one after another. The comments attached to the textbooks which applied for the authorization often pointed out use of unsuitable concrete numbers. The comments were often concerned with the difficulty words or sentenses for elementary schools and with the incorrectness of mathematical contents secondary schools. We conclude that the system encouraged the rapid modernization and regularization of Japanese tbooks during this period. We may note that there was a tendency not to adopt an extremely usual trial into the textbooks.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.97-109
• /
• 1998

The activities of teaching and learning are to try to reach the lesson object most closely in many ways. Considering that the lesson objects are to get the principle or law of a concept, to acquire the mathematical function, to master it through repeated exercises and to solve mathematical problems, we need many ways to reach such objects. Among the many ways, we can first think of one: the students will learn with curiosity and according to their own ability or advancing level in learning when teachers study and prepare necessary contents enough in advance by using computers, showing the right program to learners' needs. For example, defining definite integral by measuration by parts will help understand measuration by parts well and know the meaning of definite integral correctly, In teaching and learning by the use of this program, the educational effects are expected as follows. 1. It is thought that this program will stimulate the desire for and interest in learning because it used animation and acoustic effect. And voluntary and positive thinking activity will be shown. 2. It is expected that the conviction of formulas will be got and the concept of definite integral will be remembered firmly by showing how to measure the width of circle with the use of measuration by parts in various other ways instead of the ways used at present. 3. It is expected that students will feel the pleasure of mathematics in life when they recognize mathematical facts scattered really in our life rather than mathematical difficulties. 4. It is expected that the repeated review of programs already designed will remove the fear of incomplete parts and help review again. 5. It is certain that positive attitude in life will be formed as teacher-centered class is changed into learner-centered class and unwilling study is changed into self-oriented study. However, I think this program is insufficient for humanbeing-centered education given directly in contact with students on the ground of the variety in mathematical education and applications in many ways. And mechanically inhuman computers leave some solutions to be desired

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.667-674
• /
• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy in Malaysia, where data are limited regarding knowledge and barriers in regard to CRC and screening tests. The aim of the study was to assess these parameters among Malaysians. Materials and Methods: The questionnaires were distributed in the Umra Private Hospital in Selangor. The questionnaire had four parts and covered social-demographic questions, respondent knowledge about CRC and colorectal tests, attitude towards CRC and respondentaction regarding CRC. More than half of Malay participants (total n=187) were female (57.2%) and 36.9% of them were working as professionals. Results: The majority of the participants (93.6%) never had a CRC screening test. The study found that only 10.2% of the study participants did not consider that their chances of getting CRC were high. A high percentage of the participants (43.3%) believed that they would have good chance of survival if the cancer would be found early. About one third of the respondents did not want to do screening because of fear of cancer, and concerns of embarrassment during the procedure adversely affected attitude to CRC screening as well. Age, gender, income, family history of CRC, vegetable intake and physical activity were found to be significant determinants of knowledge on CRC. Conclusions: The major barriers identified towards CRC screening identified in our study were fear of pain and embarrassment. The findings have implications for understanding of similarities and differences in attitude to CRC amongst elderly patients in other cultural/geographic regions.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.525-541
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the effects of the topics in basic mathematics on academic achievement in order to improve the problem-solving abilities of low achievement students in university general mathematics. This program has been conducted from P University as a part of Education Capacity Enhancing Project. The goals of this program are to make students who have fear to mathematics feel confident for mathematics, and make easier to study general mathematics and major field without any difficulties for the students. The topics in basic mathematics was enforced with solving problem based on comprehension of the basic concept and computer-based learning. The classes were organized as Algebra-Geometry, Calculus, and General mathematics class by students' applications for classes and basic academic ability. As a result, the topics in basic mathematics has been evaluated as positive way to effect satisfaction and learning effect for the students who have low-level in basic academic ability. And also, according to the survey, the result shows that assignment through Webwork system and Mathematica program practice are helpful for learning basic mathematics. But several measures are asked for participation in the class and prevention for quitter of participants.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.17-48
• /
• 2017

This case study examined mathematics anxiety of a public high school sophomore who was unable to perform well in mathematics but later overcame his fear of mathematics. In this study, he showed high levels of mathematics anxiety in the assessment tools that evaluate mathematical anxiety factors. Cognitive and behavior treatments were carried out to alleviate his anxiety. First, cognitive treatments that were implemented include: understanding his own problems, writing down his thoughts on a record sheet, and changing intermediate and core beliefs. This paper explored cognitive and affective changes and reactions during the treatment process. Second, behavioral treatments that were conducted include: the divided-page method and peer tutoring. The divided-page technique involves the test subject to write down and solve his problems on a note to see what kind of cognitive and affective changes occur during the process. This paper also explored how Su-chul, an overly competitive student, changed and reacted cognitively and affectively through peer tutoring. The results revealed that Su-chul's exam anxiety, as well as other factors, has decreased. Moreover, he regained his self-confidence by solving math problems that he had felt difficult. His competitive attitude also has turned into a cooperative and thoughtful one.