• School Mathematics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.665-683
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to improve forward mathematics study by analyzing the effects of the teaching and learning process applied situation-based mathematical problem posing activity on problem solving ability and mathematical attitudes. For this purpose, the research questions were established as follows: 1. How the situation-based mathematical problem posing activity(WQA activity) changes the problem solving ability of students? 2. How the situation-based mathematical problem posing activity(WQA activity) changes the mathematical attitudes of students? The results of the study were as follows: (1) There was significant difference between experimental group and comparative group in problem solving ability. This means that situation-based mathematical problem posing activity was generally more effective in improving problem solving ability than general classroom-based instruction. (2) There was not significant difference between experimental group and comparative group in mathematical attitudes. But the experimental group's average scores of mathematical attitudes except mathematical confidence was higher than comparative group's ones. And there was significant difference in the mathematical adaptability. The results obtained in this study suggest that the situation-based mathematical problem posing activity can be used to improve the students' problem solving ability and mathematical attitudes

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.471-487
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• 2008

Inventive mathematical thinking, original mathematical problem solving ability, mathematical invention and so on are core concepts, which must be emphasized in all branches of mathematical education. In particular, Polya(1981) insisted that inventive thinking must be emphasized in a suitable level of university mathematical courses. In this paper, the author considered two cases of inventive problem solving ability shown by his many students via real analysis courses. The first case is about the proof of the problem "what is the derived set of the integers Z?" Nearly all books on mathematical analysis sent the question without the proof but some books said that the answer is "empty". Only one book written by Noh, Y. S.(2006) showed the proof by using the definition of accumulation points. But the proof process has some mistakes. But our student Kang, D. S. showed the perfect proof by using The Completeness Axiom, which is very useful in mathematical analysis. The second case is to show the infinite countability of NxN, which is shown by informal proof in many mathematical analysis books with formal proofs. Some students who argued the informal proof as an unreasonable proof were asked to join with us in finding the one-to-one correspondences between NxN and N. Many students worked hard and find two singled-valued mappings and one set-valued mapping covering eight diagrams in the paper. The problems are not easy and the proofs are a little complicated. All the proofs shown in this paper are original and right, so the proofs are deserving of inventive mathematical thoughts, original mathematical problem solving abilities and mathematical inventions. From the inventive proofs of his students, the author confirmed that any students can develope their mathematical abilities by their professors' encouragements.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.443-458
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• 2019

Mathematical modeling has been a crucial topic in mathematics education as students' problem solving competency are regarded as a core skill for future society. Despite of the importance of mathematical modeling in school mathematics, there have been very limited studies relating pre-service teachers' knowledge and perceptions on mathematical modeling. In this vein, this study aimed to investigate pe-service mathematics teachers' perceptions on mathematical model, mathematical modeling and educational use of mathematical modeling, and their relationships. The current study utilized a survey consisted of 18 items. The responses of 210 pre-service mathematics teachers to the survey items were quantitatively analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the structural equation model, and multi group analysis. The results of analysis of variance revealed that pre-service teachers in difference groups (majors, grades, and experiences with mathematical modeling) showed statistically significant differences in mean values. Moreover, according to the results from the structural equation modeling analysis, pre-service mathematics teachers' perceptions on mathematical model and modeling affected their perceptions on educational use of mathematical modeling. In addition, depending on their pre-experiences with mathematical modeling, pre-service teachers represented a different relationship between perceptions on mathematical modeling and educational use of mathematical modeling. Implications for future studies and mathematics classrooms were discussed.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.257-276
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• 2023

Mathematical modeling can be described as a series of processes in which real-world problem situations are understood, interpreted using mathematical methods, and solved based on mathematical models. The effectiveness of mathematics instruction using mathematical modeling has been demonstrated through prior research. This study aims to explore insights for mathematical modeling instruction by analyzing the metacognitive characteristics shown in the mathematical modeling cycle, according to the mathematical thinking styles of elementary math gifted students. To achieve this, a mathematical thinking style assessment was conducted with 39 elementary math gifted students from University-affiliated Science Gifted Education Center, and based on the assessment results, they were classified into visual, analytical, and mixed groups. The metacognition manifested during the process of mathematical modeling for each group was analyzed. The analysis results revealed that metacognitive elements varied depending on the phases of modeling cycle and their mathematical thinking styles. Based on these findings, didactical implications for mathematical modeling instruction were derived.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.273-289
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• 2002

It tends to be emphasized that mathematics is the important discipline to develop students' mathematical reasoning abilities such as deduction, induction, analogy, and visual reasoning. This study is aimed for investigating the present state about mathematical reasoning in secondary school. We survey teachers' opinions and analyze the results. The results are analyzed by frequency analysis including percentile, t-test, and MANOVA. Results are the following: 1. Teachers recognized mathematics as knowledge constructed by deduction, induction, analogy and visual reasoning, and evaluated their reasoning abilities high. 2. Teachers indicated the importances of reasoning in curriculum, the necessities and the representations, but there are significant difference in practices comparing to the former importances. 3. To evaluate mathematical reasoning, teachers stated that they needed items and rubric for assessment of reasoning. And at present, they are lacked. 4. The hindrances in teaching mathematical reasoning are the lack of method for appliance to mathematics instruction, the unpreparedness of proposals for evaluation method, and the lack of whole teachers' recognition for the importance of mathematical reasoning

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.127-141
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• 2007

This paper compares and analyzes mathematics teachers' understanding of students' mathematical comprehension after experiences with the Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) or the Development of Mathematical Ideas (DMI) teaching strategies. This report sheds light on current issues confronted by the educational system in the context of mathematics teaching and learning. In particular, the declining rate of mathematical literacy among adolescents is discussed. Moreover, examples of CGI and DMI teaching strategies are presented to focus on the impact of these teaching styles on student-centered instruction, teachers' belief, and students' mathematical achievement, conceptual understanding and word problem solving skills. Hence, with a gradual enhancement of reformed ways of teaching mathematics in schools and the reported increase in student achievement as a result of professional development with new teaching strategies, teacher professional development programs that emphasize teachers' understanding of students' mathematical comprehension is needed rather than the currently dominant traditional pedagogy of direct instruction with a focus on teaching problem solving strategies.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.18 no.2 s.19
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• pp.9-33
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• 2004

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the dialogue about the notion of advanced mathematical thinking by offering an alternative characterization for this idea, namely advancing mathematical activity. We use the term advancing (versus advanced) because we emphasize the progression and evolution of students' reasoning in relation to their previous activity. We also use the term activity, rather than thinking. This shift in language reflects our characterization of progression in mathematical thinking as acts of participation in a variety of different socially or culturally situated mathematical practices. We emphasize for these practices the changing nature of student' mathematical activity and frame the process of progression in terms of multiple layers of horizontal and vertical mathematizing.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.79-98
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• 2010

To analyze the relationships between self-control, thinking quality and mathematical academic achievement, 197 senior school students were asked to complete questionnaires called "self-control ability on mathematics for middle school students" and "thinking quality for senior school students." The results were as follows: (1) There was strongly positive relevance between self-control ability, thinking quality and mathematical academic achievement. (2) A model was presented in which self-control ability had a direct impact on mathematical academic achievement, meanwhile had indirectly influenced mathematical academic achievement by thinking quality which acted as the intermediate variable. Thinking quality had a direct impact on mathematical academic achievement, too. (3) There's no significant difference between the two groups of boys and girls on the structural weights.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.383-397
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• 2008

In problem solving, the necessity of mathematical thinking is absolute. In this paper, with an established theory about mathematical thinking, we will try to observe how the students can form mathematical thinking through a mathematical example in mathematical class by using Lakatos' process of proofs and refutations.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.20 no.4 s.28
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• pp.561-574
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• 2006

Mathematical creativity has been confused with general creativity or mathematical problem solving ability in many studies. Also, it is considered as a special talent that only a few mathematicians and gifted students could possess. However, this paper revisited the mathematical creativity from a mathematics educator's point of view and attempted to redefine its definition. This paper proposes a model of creativity in school mathematics. It also proposes that the basis for mathematical creativity is in the understanding of basic mathematical concept and structure.