• The Mathematical Education
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.353-373
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• 2010

This research was to help slow learners to be motivated and to make their outcome productive, using GSP based on the mathematization theory for learning mathematics, as a way of encouraging the learner-centered approach. With 2 of the second graders in a high school, who had not yet understood trigonometric functions in their first grade period, 7 units of lesson plans were designed for the research. The results showed that first, understanding real life contexts and analyzing properties by observation, and experiment using GSP, to build the concept of trigonometric functions could be a foothold on which learner's organization and outcome from a horizontal mathematization led to vertical mathematization. Despite the delay during the level-up-stage for a while, the learners could attain the vertical mathematization stage and moreover the applicative mathematization through effective use of GSP and the interaction between the learners or a teacher and the learners. Second, using GSP was a vertical tool of connecting horizontal mathematization with vertical mathematization in forming the concept of trigonometric functions and its meaning could be understood by their verbalizing and presenting the outcomes through their active performance. Using GSP is helpful for slow learners to overcome learning difficulties, based on the instructional materials designed by Realistic Mathematics Education.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.46 no.1 s.116
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• pp.97-122
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• 2007

This article provides how to implement the use of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) in a teaching a function at a school to improve students' mathematization for their mathematical thinking using technology, This study was planed to get research results using the mixed methodology with quantitative and qualitative methodologies. 120 middle school students participated in the study to bring us data about their mathematical achievement and disposition. Through the data analysis used ANCOVA, the students with the experiment of the mathematization and technology excelled the other groups of students who were not provided with technology or both of them. In analysis of the questions of the achievement test, the problems for vertical mathematization were presented harder for the students than the other problems for horizontal and applicative mathematization. The technology environment might have helped students manipulate the application of real-life problems easier. This means that teachers can put more careful assignment on vertical mathematization using technology. We also explored that learning and teaching under RME using technology encouraged students to refine and develop their informal functional concept and pursue higher thinking of formalization. The study results in a lot of resources for teachers to use into their teaching mathematics for improving students' mathematical thinking.