• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.323-349
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• 2020

In this study, we conducted eight reciprocal peer tutoring classes where each student took either role of a tutor or a tutee to study covariational reasoning in ninth graders. Students were given the opportunity to teach their peers with their covariational reasoning as tutors, and at the same time to learn covariational reasoning as tutees. A heterogeneous group was formed so that scaffolding could be provided in the teaching and learning process. A total of eight reciprocal peer tutoring worksheets were collected: four quantitative graph type questions and four questions of the qualitative graph to the group. The results of the analysis are as follows. In reciprocal peer tutoring, students who experienced a higher level of covariational reasoning than their covariational reasoning level showed an improvement in covariational reasoning levels. In addition, students enhanced the completeness of reasoning by modifying or supplementing their own covariational reasoning. Minimal teacher intervention or high-level peer mediation seems to be needed for providing feedback on problem-solving results.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.251-279
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• 2016

There are many studies on 'how' students solve mathematical problems, but few of them sufficiently explained 'why' they have to solve the problems in their own different ways. As quantitative reasoning is the basis for algebraic reasoning, to scrutinize a student's way of dealing with quantities in a problem situation is critical for understanding why the student has to solve it in such a way. From our teaching experiments with two ninth-grade students, we found that emergences of a certain level of covariational reasoning were highly consistent across different types of problems within each participating student. They conceived the given problem situations at different levels of covariation and constructed their own quantity-structures. It led them to solve the problems with the resources accessible to their structures only, and never reconciled with the other's solving strategies even after having reflection and discussion on their solutions. It indicates that their own structure of quantities constrained the whole process of problem solving and they could not discard the structures. Based on the results, we argue that teachers, in order to provide practical supports for students' problem solving, need to focus on the students' way of covariational reasoning of problem situations.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

This paper explores gifted students' reasoning abilities. Three tests were developed in order to assess and analyze their reasoning abilities building on previous research on covariational reasoning. Giving consideration to the arising problems in the tests, we constructed a LOGO-based JavaMAL microworld environment which engages students in an active learning environment. This environment was designed by applying 'instrumental approach' in microworld. Based upon the post test results, the role of activity in microworld environment as 'instrument mediated activity' is also discussed.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of cognitive activity on cognitive activities that students imagine and cope with continuously changing quantitative changes in functional tasks represented by linguistic expressions, table of value, and geometric patterns, We identified covariational reasoning levels and investigated the characteristics of students' reasoning process according to the levels of covariational reasoning in the elementary quantitative problem situations. Participants were seven 4th grade elementary students using the questionnaires. The selected students were given study materials. We observed the students' activity sheets and conducted in-depth interviews. As a result of the study, the students' covariational reasoning level for two quantities that are continuously covaried was found to be five, and different reasoning process was shown in quantitative problem situations according to students' covariational reasoning levels. In particular, students with low covariational level had difficulty in grasping the two variables and solved the problem mainly by using the table of value, while the students with the level of chunky and smooth continuous covariation were different from those who considered the flow of time variables. Based on the results of the study, we suggested that various problems related with continuous covariation should be provided and the meanings of the tasks should be analyzed by the teachers.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.453-472
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• 2009

This article describes the interview data with two preservice teachers where they dealt with five water-filling problems for the investigation of their covariational thinking. The study's results revealed that two students developed their covariation levels from Direction level to Instantaneous Rate with an aid of the pre-constructed GSP simulations for the problem situations. However, this study also points out that there is a missing important feature for a function notion, 'causality' in the covariation framework and suggests that future research should combine students' conception of causality with their covariational thinking for the investigation of their development of a function concept.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.61-79
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• 2015

This study discussed about how pseudo-thinking process actually occurs in the mind of the students, used Piaget's frame work of the assimilation and accommodation process. The data collection is conducted using Think-Out-Loud (TOL) method. The study reveals that pseudo thinking process of covariational reasoning occurs originally from incomplete assimilation, incomplete accommodation process or both. Based on this, three models of incomplete thinking structure constructions are established: (1) Deviated thinking structure, (2) Incomplete thinking structure on assimilation process, and (3) Incomplete thinking structure on accommodation process.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.43-59
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• 2016

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to investigate differences among two gifted middle school students emerging through the process of algebra word problem solving from the covariational perspective. We collected the data from four middle school students participating in the mentorship program for gifted students of mathematics and found out differences between Junghee and Donghee in solving problems involving varying rates of change. This study focuses on their actions to solve and to generalize the problems situations involving constant and varying rates of change. The results indicate that their covariational reasoning played a significant role in their algebra word problem solving.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-49
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• 2017

This study examined two current learning models for covariational reasoning(Carlson et al.(2002), Thompson, & Carlson(2017)), applied the models to teaching two $9^{th}$ grade students, and analyzed the results according to the types of graphs(a quantitative graph or qualitative graph). Results showed that the model of Thompson and Carlson(2017) was more useful than that of Carlson et al.(2002) in figuring out the students' levels in their quantitative graphing activities. Applying Carlson et al.(2002)'s model made it possible to classify levels of the students in their qualitative graphs. The results of this study suggest that not only quantitative understanding but also qualitative understanding is important in investigating students' covariational reasoning levels. The model of Thompson and Carlson(2017) reveals more various aspects in exploring students' levels of quantitative understanding, and the model of Carlson et al.(2002) revealing more of qualitative understanding.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.323-340
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• 2021

The purpose of this case study is to explore the similarities revealed in the process of solving and generalizing word problems related to systems of linear equations in two variables according to covariational reasoning. As a result, student S, who reasoned with coordination of value level, had a static image of the quantities given in the situation. student D, who reasoned with smooth continuous covariation level, had a dynamic image of the quantities in the problem situation and constructed an invariant relationship between the quantities. The results of this study suggest that the activity that constructs the relationship between the quantities in solving word problems helps to strengthen the mathematical problem solving ability, and that teaching methods should be prepared to strengthen students' covariational reasoning in algebra learning.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.569-590
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• 2023

The purpose of this case study is to compare and analyze the covariational reasoning levels of two middle school students revealed in the process of solving and generalizing algebra word problems. A class was conducted with two middle school students who had not learned quadratic equations in school mathematics. During the retrospective analysis after the class was over, a noticeable difference between the two students was revealed in solving algebra word problems, including situations where speed changes. Accordingly, this study compared and analyzed the level of covariational reasoning revealed in the process of solving or generalizing algebra word problems including situations where speed is constant or changing, based on the theoretical framework proposed by Thompson & Carlson(2017). As a result, this study confirmed that students' covariational reasoning levels may be different even if the problem-solving methods and results of algebra word problems are similar, and the similarity of problem-solving revealed in the process of solving and generalizing algebra word problems was analyzed from a covariation perspective. This study suggests that in the teaching and learning algebra word problems, rather than focusing on finding solutions by quickly converting problem situations into equations, activities of finding changing quantities and representing the relationships between them in various ways.