• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.413-434
• /
• 2014

Logic lays the foundation of Mathematics and the development of Mathematics is dependent on critical thinking. So it is important that school mathematics helps students develop their logical and critical thinking ability for both mathematics learning and problem solving in general. MINDSTORMS, a LEGO based programming activity kit, is an effective teaching and learning tool that can be used to enhance logical and critical thinking in students. This study focused on measuring the growth of students' ability to think logically and critically when they used MINDSTORMS activities to learn programming. In addition, we investigated how the students' logical and critical thinking changed from the MINDSTORMS learning experience. The study confirmed that the programming activities using MINDSTORMS help to enhance logical and critical thinking in students. The students attitude about logical and critical thinking became more positive and the activities helped to engage students to think logically and critically. This type of programming activities should be valuable in mathematics education and it should be included in a general mathematics curriculum.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.137-156
• /
• 2001

IEA's Third International Mathematics and Science Study(TIMSS) from 1994-1995 has placed Korea as one of the top three countries among 45 countries that participated in the study in mathematics achievement for the 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th grade students. While the test scores were excellent, the study also showed that mathematics education in Korea needed improvements in student attitudes, technology incorporation, and gender difference in achievement. An analysis of the a survey conducted as part of the mathematics curriculum research program showed that very little progress has been made in these areas for the past 5 years. Moreover, the progressively declining attitudes towards mathematics for high school students is a problematic phenomena for educators as we believe that mathematics is becoming even more important in an information technology based society. A comparison between the top three TIMSS scoring countries (Korea, Singapore, and Japan) and low scored country (U.S.) was made In this paper. We also compare some of problematic results from TIMSS to those from EERI Curriculum Study implemented in 2000. The study shows that simply using technology and improving student attitudes do not necessarily guarantee improved performance. Most of educators agree that potential for technology is great for both changing the way students learn and improving the attitudes of students. However, improperly implemented technology can hinder rather than help the educational process. Therefore, as we begin to implement and use more and moore technology, it is critical to develop the proper curriculum, training for teachers and research programs to track the progress and to make the necessary adjustments to provide the best possible education for our students. Another TIMSS result shows for all four grade levels(3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th), Korea shows the highest gender difference among all the participating countries. TIMSS data such as this is valuable to benchmark all types of information to get a better understanding about what is happening for improvements in math curriculum in Korea. More research needs to be done in comparing the performance of Korean mathematics education to understand both the strengths and weaknesses of our curriculum so that improvements can be made.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.233-256
• /
• 2002

This study investigated school mathematics curriculum of England, newly revised in 1998, focused on the 'number and algebra' domain among three major domains of the English curriculum. On the basis of its understanding, this domain was compared and analyzed with school mathematics curriculum of Korea. In doing so, this study explored its plans and procedures and established a frame of comparison for the curriculums between the two countries. The structure of the National Curriculum in England is composed of programmes of study and attainment targets. The former sets out what should be taught in mathematics at key stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 and provides the basis for planning schemes of work, and the latter sets out the knowledge, skills, and understanding that pupils of different abilities and matures are expected to have by the end of each key stage. Attainment targets are composed of eight levels and an additional level of increasing difficulty. According to the results of the present study, Korea focuses on the formal and systematic mathematical knowledge on the basis of sound understanding of certain mathematical terms or concepts. On the other hand, England tends to deal with numbers more flexibly and naturally through the aquisition of mental methods, calculator use methods, etc, and emphasizes that mathematics be realistic and useful in solving a diverse number of problems confronted in everyday life.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.507-527
• /
• 2019

At the time when textbooks were developed and applied according to the 2015 revised curriculum and At the time of developing new test textbooks, it is necessary to examine the contents of the textbooks based on the 2015 revised curriculum and the responses of field teachers. Therefore, this study conducted a questionnaire survey for elementary school teachers on how teachers perceive and evaluate elementary mathematics textbooks (math textbooks, mathematics learning books, teacher guidebooks) developed and applied based on the 2015 revised curriculum. The results were analyzed.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 1999

This study is an analysis on the Arithmetic education curriculum of elementary school in Japan that will become effective from April 1, 2002. In new curriculum, loaming are highly reduced and mediated. This curriculum is characterized by the slow and interesting Arithmetic education focusing on creativity, student-based Arithmetic education, and real life-related Arithmetic education.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.93-108
• /
• 2018

In Nuri curriculum, Korean traditional culture has presented by 'Our country's plays and arts'. Games in the traditional play culture for children include ones such as tangram, top-spinning game, game of slap-match, sabangchigi. In this paper, we analyse concepts of mathematics in Korean childhood traditional plays. In detail, we show that number concepts, geometric space sense, measure calculation ability and problem-solving capability through 15 Korean traditional games.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.403-425
• /
• 2005

The study aims to get real picture of primary mathematics education based on RME in the Netherlands focusing on number and operations strand by reflecting and analyzing the documents in relation to the primary school mathematics curriculum. In order to attain these purposes, the present paper describes the core goals for mathematics education, Dutch Pluspunt textbook series for the primary school, and a learning-teaching trajectory by TAL project which are determinants of the Dutch primary school mathematics curriculum. Under these reflections on the documents, it is analyzed what is the characteristics of number and operations strand in the Nether-lands as follows: counting numbers, contextualization, positioning, structuring, progressive algoritmization based on levels, estimation and insightful use of a calculator. Finally, discussing Points for improving our primary mathematics curriculum and textbook series development are described.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.193-208
• /
• 2018

Classification is presented in the curriculum of elementary school mathematics, science, Korean language, and integrated subjects as the major function that needs to be learned. In addition, mathematics textbooks teach the classification as a basic process for organizing and interpreting collected materials in a separate unit. So, we analyzed the curriculum documents and textbooks of mathematics, science, Korean language, and integrated subjects. And we explored how to teach the classification in the context of mathematics subject. As a result, it is necessary to find different classification criteria in conjunction with detailed observation and investigation activities, and to teach that considering the circumstances and purpose of the classification. It also provided implications on how to revive converged classes that focus on big ideas and skills, which are commonly offered by various subjects.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.375-396
• /
• 2022

In this paper, to provide an idea for the 2022 revised mathematics curriculum by restructuring the content of the 2015 mathematics curriculum, the content elements of recurring decimals of textbooks, which showed differences in the curriculum of Korea and Japan, were analyzed. As a result of this study, in Korea, before the introduction of the concept of irrational numbers, repeating decimals were defined in the second year of middle school, and the relationship between repeating decimals and rational numbers was dealt with. In Japan, after studying irrational numbers in the third year of middle school, the terminology of repeating decimals is briefly dealt with. Then, when learning the concept of limit in the high school <Mathematics III> subject, the relationship between rational numbers and repeating decimals is dealt with. Based on the results of the study, in relation to the optimization of the amount of learning in the 2022 curriculum revision, implications for the introduction period of the circular decimal number, alternatives to the level of its content, and the teaching and learning methods were proposed.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.361-378
• /
• 2011

Since textbooks are developed according to the curriculum, it might be said that the terms registered in curriculum can serve as guidelines for terms used in textbooks. But it really is not. In this study, so that terms registered in curriculum can serve as guidelines for terms used in textbooks, inconsistencies between them would be found out and improved. To this end, suitability of selecting and using terms are discussed, focusing on terms registered in curriculum and terms used in textbooks. In fact, there are significant differences between the terms registered in curriculum and the terms in textbooks, because there is not any criteria in selecting and using terms. In this study the five criteria with respect to registering terms in curriculum are proposed. Everyday language should not be registered. Naturalized terms should not be registered. Terms used in only elementary mathematics, but are already well-established should be registered. Same term used in diverse context should be registered only once. Terms which can be used without definition should be designated. Three criteria in regard to using terms in textbooks are proposed. Terms registered in curriculum must be used. Same term used in diverse context should be redefined in every context. Terms that are not certified and are not absolutely necessary must not be used.