• Title/Summary/Keyword: conceptions

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Changing Students' Conceptions of Mathematics through the Introduction of Variation

  • Wong, Ngai-Ying;Kong, Chit-Kwong;Lam, Chi-Chung;Wong, Ka-Ming Patrick
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.361-380
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    • 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.

High School Science Teachers' and Students' Conceptions Related to Osmosis

  • Won, Jeong-Ae;Ko, Young-Hwan;Paik, Seoung-Hey
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.144-152
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    • 2007
  • In this study, high school science teachers' and students' various conceptions related to osmosis phenomena were compared with and analyzed in relation to the content of science textbooks used in high school science classrooms and college science courses. The questionnaires developed by the researchers were administered to science teachers and students. Differences can be found between the explanations of science textbooks on osmotic pressure and semi-permeable membranes. Many science teachers and students thought of osmotic pressure as 'membrane pressure occurred by the movement of a solvent'. Moreover, the types of teachers of semi-permeable membranes were similar regardless of their academic majors. Many of the teachers thought of a semi-permeable membrane as a membrane that 'passes small-size particles'; however, many students thought of this type of membrane as being 'selectively permeable'. Also, the salt-pickling cabbage phenomenon seemed to cause significant confusion to science teachers and students. These study results show that teachers and students possess various conceptions related to the osmosis phenomena. These different conceptions related to osmosis phenomena might cause confusion and diverse conceptions including misconceptions among teachers and students.

A study on the conceptions of Instream Flow (하천유지용수의 개념에 관한 연구)

  • 이진원;오규창
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 1989.07a
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    • pp.71-78
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    • 1989
  • An attempt was made to study on the conceptions of instream flow for maintaining a normal funtion of the rivers. Therefore, Investigations and analyses on the conceptions of the instream flow of the advanced countries were conducted. Finaly, the appropriate conception of instream flow for Korean rivers was suggested.

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Senior Secondary School Students' Epistemological Conceptions of Mathematics in China: Characteristics and Development Process

  • Yang, Xinrong
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.79-97
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    • 2013
  • This paper reports findings from a survey of senior secondary school students' epistemological conceptions of mathematics with the adaption of the instrument of the "Conceptions of Mathematics" - Inventory in China. The survey included a sample of 414 Grade 10 students, 441 Grade 11 students, and 400 Grade 12 students from three provinces. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and T-test were employed to analyze data in this study. It was found that senior secondary school students mainly focused on objectivity and reality of mathematics, without highlighting the characteristics of sociality, subjectivity, and creativity of mathematics. In addition, besides gender differences, differences were identified among students from different grades, different areas, taught by teachers with different teaching experience and experience in using reformed curriculum.

Pre-service Teachers' Conceptions of the Nature of Science

  • Lee, Eun-Ah;Choi, Seong-Hee
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.140-146
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    • 2002
  • We have studied 73 pre-service science teachers' conceptions about the nature of science (NOS) using 120 true-false test items based on AAAS Benchmarks statements. We have found that participants have inadequate understanding of the NOS, especially in understanding of five categories of conceptions; change and continuity in science, bias in scientific investigations, hypothesis in scientific investigations, things common in science, and science ethics. The result also indicates that there is a difference between primary pre-service teachers and secondary pre-service teachers. From the analysis of consistency, we also found that this inadequate understanding comes from confusion rather than misconception. All the results support that there is a need of intense pre-service teacher education concerning thenature of science.

Conceptions of Play and Work Held by Mothers of Preschool Children in Korea (한국 유아원 아동 어머니의 놀이와 일의 개념-질적인 접근)

  • Nam, Hyun Sook
    • Korean Journal of Child Studies
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.229-240
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    • 1992
  • Although play is a key element in child development, little research has been done on how play is conceptualized by adults directly involved with children on a daily basis. The purpose of the study was to determine meanings of the concept "play" held by mothers of preschool children in Korea. Specifically, the study sought to determine Korean mothers' conceptions of the nature and functions of play, and their conceptions of play in contrast to work. An open-ended/semi-structured interview instrument was constructed to generate research data. Interview questions focused on three content categories: (1) the nature of play, (2) the functions of play, and (3) conceptions of work. Questions in each content category consisted of four distinct types: (1) experience/behavioral, (2) opinion/value, (3) feeling, and (4) knowledge. The instrument was pilot-tested with two subjects, revised, and administered to eleven mothers of preschool children. Interview data were subjected to domain and taxonomic analyses. Analyses yielded two principal themes: (1) Play is viewed as an intrinsically motivated and pleasurable activity; (2) while play and work could be consonant, the values inherent in play and work are generally in opposition.

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Scientifically Gifted Students' Conceptions of Nature of Science

  • Choi, Seong-Hee;Lee, Eun-Ah
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.100-107
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    • 2003
  • The purpose of this study is to assess gifted students' conceptions about nature of science (NOS). Scientifically gifted students who are expected to be professionals in the future should possess an adequate understanding of NOS that if firm foundation for scientific career. 47 volunteers from the 8th grade gifted science program in Seoul National University Gifted Education Center participated to answer questions inquiring NOS conceptions. Their answers were analyzed and compared to different groups such as non-gifted students and younger gifted students. As a result, gifted students' understanding of NOS appeared to surpass that of non-gifted students in many aspects and it seemed that gifted students formed their NOS view in early ages. The relative weakness in their NOS conceptions was found in understanding of scientific enterprise. Their strong misunderstanding about obstacles that minority people would face in scientific enterprise was noticed, too. They admitted that there has been discrimination in scientific enterprise, but they wrongly believed that outstanding scientists cannot be affected by it. Further studies will be required to probe more.

Korean Children's Conceptions about Light (빛에 대한 국민학교 학생들의 개념조사)

  • Kim, Han-Ho;Kwon, Jae-Sool;Kim, Beom-Ki;Jeong, Jin-Woo;Choi, Byung-Soon
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.43-53
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    • 1992
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate children's(K-5) conceptions about light in Korea. The two aspect of children's conceptions about light were identified : the sources of light, the nature of vision. Data were collected from 92 children by a mixture of writing, drawing and interview, and were analysed by systematic networks. The major findings of this study were as follows : 1. Children showed an awareness of a wide variety of sources of light. The predominant sources exampled by children were primary sources. 2. Children explained vision as intentional activity of seeing Seeing. means action that move their heal or eyes to the objects. Infants(K-1) did not recognize that light are needed for vision. 3. A notable features in children's conceptions about light were context-dependent.

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Students' and Teachers' Conceptions of Mathematics in the New Curriculum of Mainland China

  • Ding Rui;Wong Ngai-Ying
    • Research in Mathematical Education
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    • v.10 no.3 s.27
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    • pp.205-213
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    • 2006
  • In this research, we interviewed primary school teachers and students with hypothetical situations questions and got a comprehensive picture of the status quo of what is happening in the new mathematics classrooms of Mainland China, that is, teachers' conceptions of mathematics and their teaching approaches influence the students' conceptions of mathematics to a large extent. For the teacher who emphasizes the precision and rigidity of mathematics, her students focus on the superficial characteristics of mathematics. On the contrary, for the teacher who believes that mathematics is an open process, related to real life and rich in content, her students are more interested in mathematics and have more diverse conceptions.

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The Russian Revolution and an Alternative Democracy (러시아 혁명과 대안 민주주의)

  • Ha, Tae-gyu
    • 사회경제평론
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.107-145
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    • 2018
  • This paper presents that in the Russian Revolution 1) socialist and alternative democratic conceptions between Marx and Lenin are very different, 2) the process and cause of failure of realizing Lenin's democratic alternative conception, 3) the interactive expansion process of the party and the state, 4) the failing process of socialist original accumulation, collectivization, and constructing planned economy. This shows that Russia could not help fail to transit to socialist society due to the combination of wrong conceptions and that new revolution and construction should combine right socialist and democratic conceptions.