• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.483-500
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• 2019

This study compared and analyzed the van Hiele levels of geometry contents in middle school mathematics textbooks and those of students' thinking. As the mathematics curriculum was revised recently, the amount of contents in the geometry area were reduced, but the van Hiele level did not change much, and the gap between the van Hiele level of geometric contents presented in the textbooks and the level of students' geometric thinking still remained unchaged. The van Hiele levels of the geometric contents in the textbooks were distributed in the levels of 1, 2, 3 in the first grade, and 2, 3, 4 in the second and third grade. In the case of the first grade, 69% of the students were less than or equal to level 2, and 73.7% and 47.6% of the students in the second and third grades were less than or equal to level 3, respectively. Especially, in the case of the second and third grade, the ratio of the 4th level of the contents presented in the textbook is higher than the problem, which can cause difficulties for the students.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-47
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• 2023

This study examines the activity system of teaching and learning about informal statistical inference using sampling simulation, based on cultural-historical activity theory. The research explores what contradictions arise in the activity system and how the system changes as a result of these contradictions. The participants were 20 elementary school students in the 5th to 6th grades who received classes on informal statistical inference using sampling simulations. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings show that a contradiction emerged between the rule and the object, as well as between the mediating artifact and the object. It was confirmed that visualization of empirical sampling distribution was introduced as a new artifact while resolving these contradictions. In addition, contradictions arose between the subject and the rule and between the rule and the mediating artifact. It was confirmed that an algorithm to calculate the mean of the sample means was introduced as a new rule while resolving these contradictions.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.425-441
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• 2009

The cube-accumulation is a new theme included in the 7th elementary mathematics curriculum for improving children's spatial ability. One activity of the cube-accumulation is to recognize the configuration of accumulated cube given three plane figures in the directions of the above, the front and the side, respectively. The approach to this activity presented in the mathematics textbook is more or less intuitive and constructive, and difficult to some children. So we suggest an alternative, more analytic method, 'elimination method', that is eliminating unnecessary parts from $n{\times}n{\times}n$ whole cubes. This method was adopted to the 32 sixth graders, in special five applicants among them. Their responses and activities were analyzed. We confirm that we can teach the cube-accumulation by the elimination method, and some children prefer this method. 13u1 this method requires more exercises to be executed skillfully.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2024

This study analyzed the vocabularies presented in the 1st to 2nd grade elementary school mathematics field review textbook according to the 2022 revised curriculum using a 9th grade vocabulary system and improved them. The result of the analysis shows that the frequency of vocabulary that was not appropriate for the students' level was found to be 6.67% in the first semester of the first year and 12.17% in the second semester of the first year. For the first semester of the second year, it was 11.73%, and for the second semester of the second year, it was 14.19%. This shows that the frequency of vocabulary that may be difficult for students gradually increases. Based on the analysis results, vocabulary that had a high difficulty level but was not essential in the textbook was deleted, and essential vocabulary or vocabulary that was difficult for students was presented with pictures added or revised in more detail. In addition, words that can be modified with similar words with low lexical difficulty were replaced and presented. In this way, research on vocabulary difficulty can identify aspects of vocabulary used in textbooks and can help develop high-quality textbooks by appropriately modifying vocabulary for effective mathematics learning.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-152
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to navigate to the desired direction for the figure of number line through the extensive analysis of number line in middle school textbooks and literatures. For the efficient achievement of this purpose, three research questions were posed as follows: First, we compare the figures of number line in textbooks of Korea and other countries. Korean math textbooks mark the arrow on both sides of number line. But, however, coordinate plane was marked with arrow on only positive direction of number line. In contrast, the majority of secondary school textbooks in several foreign countries has the arrow only on positive direction. Second, the change in the figure of number line has been analyzed historically from two perspectives. From the first to 2007-revised curriculum, math textbooks of Korea were analyzed. Since the 6th curriculum, the number of textbooks with arrows on both sides has increased sharply. That is, textbooks with one arrow almost have disappeared. It is strange that any explanation for this abrupt change can't be found. The following analysis was also performed on published foreign literatures since Descartes. There was no arrow in the early figures of number line. But after 19th century, number lines with one arrow have begun to appear. Third, based on the previous study, we propose a reasonable way for the figure of number line. In fact, we claim that, in terms of linguistic symbols, the number line should be with only one arrow on positive side.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.19-33
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• 2024

This study investigates longitudinal patterns in middle school students' mathematics interest and achievement using panel data from the 4th to 6th year of the Gyeonggi Education Panel Study. Results from the multivariate growth mixture model confirmed the existence of heterogeneous characteristics in the longitudinal trajectory of students' mathematics interest and achievement. Students were classified into four latent classes: a low-level class with weak interest and achievement, a high-level class with strong interest and achievement, a middlelevel-increasing class where interest and achievement rise with grade, and a middle-level-decreasing class where interest and achievement decline with grade. Each class exhibited distinct patterns in the change of interest and achievement. Moreover, an examination of the correlation between intercepts and slopes in the multivariate growth mixture model reveals a positive association between interest and achievement with respect to their initial values and growth rates. We further explore predictive variables influencing latent class assignment. The results indicated that students' educational ambition and time spent on private education positively affect mathematics interest and achievement, and the influence of prior learning varies based on its intensity. The perceived instruction method significantly impacts latent class assignment: teacher-centered instruction increases the likelihood of belonging to higher-level classes, while learner-centered instruction increases the likelihood of belonging to lower-level classes. This study has significant implications as it presents a new method for analyzing the longitudinal patterns of students' characteristics in mathematics education through the application of the multivariate growth mixture model.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.745-770
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• 2013

In the knowledge-based society today, most knowledge is the integrated one which is difficult to be classified into subjects rather than the knowledge of a single subject. Thus, integrated thinking, which integrated knowledge is preferentially acquired first and then can be also associated with imagination and artistic sensitivity, is simultaneously required in order that we have a problem-solving capability in our daily life. STEAM education(science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) is one of the educational methods to improve this problem-solving capability as well as integrated thinking. This research developed materials for STEAM education which can be applied to the 6th grade curriculum of elementary school mathematics, then input it, and analyzed how it impacts with students' attitudes toward mathematics. Unit 3 'Prism' and Pyramid' were restructured and replaced by classes such as 'Spaghetti Project' or 'Paper Craft'. Unit 4 'Several Solid Figure' was taught as a class of 'EDUCUBE'. Unit 6 'Proportional Graph' was taught as a class of 'Creating my own bracelet'. After having this class, we found that mathematics class applied STEAM also has a positive effect on the mathematical attitude of students. Many students said that math is fun and gets more interesting after having math class applied STEAM and we come to know that they have positive awareness of mathematics.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-209
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• 2013

This study was designed to identify how teachers and students solve problems and communicate with each other during the course of study through application of PBL questions that can be utilized in math ratio and graph sections of the 6th-grade elementary school curriculum in class. Therefore we haved figure it out that through pbl class student acquired a propound knowledge in math and showed self-directed learning through various communication activities, and that they finally showed positive attitude and confidence in this subject.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.625-642
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to develop and verify the feedback-enhanced performance assessment model through a variety of assessment strategies focused on the development of students. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, we analyzed the achievements of the sixth grade curriculum standards and set the central achievement standards in core competencies. We then established an evaluation plan to take advantage of a variety of methods and develop an assessment tool for process-based evaluation during lessons. We applied this assessment model to 6th grade students while teaching and learning mathematics in the classroom. The result of applying the performance evaluation model showed the improvement of students' reflective thinking ability. Also, some students who was not achieved at the level of 'N' could develop to the level of 'N + 1'. A long term research using various assessment strategies should be continued for effective help of students' mathematical development.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.181-193
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• 2016

We examined the inquiry activities in the material domain of the elementary science textbooks and experimental workbooks based on 2009 revised curriculum. The analysis framework was SEP (Science and Engineering Practices) - 'Asking questions and defining problems', 'developing and using models', 'planning and carrying out investigations', 'analyzing and interpreting data', 'using mathematics and computational thinking', 'constructing explanations and designing solutions', 'engaging in argument from evidence', and 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information'. Sub-SEP of each grade band were also used. The results showed that the $3^{rd}{\sim}5^{th}$ grade science textbooks and workbooks mainly emphasized 'make observations and/or measurements', 'represent data in tables and/or various graphical displays', or 'use evidence to construct or support an explanation or design a solution to a problem' among around 40 sub-SEP. In the case of the inquiry activities for $6^{th}$ grade, majority of sub-SEP included were also only 'collect data to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions or test design solutions', 'analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for phenomena' or 'construct a scientific explanation based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources'. The type of 'asking questions and defining problems', 'using mathematics and computational thinking' or 'obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information' were little found out of 8 SEP. Educational implications were discussed.