• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2021

This study investigates students' conceptions of fractions from a measurement approach while providing a technological environment designed to support students' understanding of the relationships between quantities and adjustable units. 13 third-graders participated in this study and they were involved in a series of measurement tasks through task-based interviews. The tasks were devised to investigate the relationship between units and quantity through manipulations. Screencasting videos were collected including verbal explanations and manipulations. Drawing upon the theory of semiotic mediation, students' constructed concepts during interviews were coded as mathematical words and visual mediators to identify conceptual profiles using a fine-grained analysis. Two students changed their strategies to solve the tasks were selected as a representative case of the two profiles: from guessing to recursive partitioning; from using random units to making a relation to the given unit. Dragging mathematical objects plays a critical role to mediate and formulate fraction understandings such as unitizing and partitioning. In addition, static and dynamic representations influence the development of unit concepts in measurement situations. The findings will contribute to the field's understanding of how students come to understand the concept of fraction as measure and the role of technology, which result in a theory-driven, empirically-tested set of tasks that can be used to introduce fractions as an alternative way.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.734-744
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to identify middle school students' mental models on plate tectonics and to compare the mental models of verbal-learning-style students with those of visual-learning-style students. 94 student participants in 9th grade were requested to draw and explain three topics; generation of magma, the formation of the mountain range and the interior of the Earth. The criterions for analyzing the mental models are derived from the data of the drawing task. The research results were as follows: The mental models on the generation of magma were classified as 'unstable model,' 'partial casual model,' 'causal model,' and 'conceptual model.' On the other hand, the mental models on the interior of the Earth were classified as 'static unstable model,' 'dynamic unstable model,' and 'conceptual model.' Students holding 'unstable model' were unable to relate the plate collision and the magma generation. They showed a variety of alternative conceptions of study areas, such as 'magma is generated from the core' and 'the mountain is formed by rising of the plates themselves.' Also, visual-learning-style students showed higher proportion of conceptual models and lower proportion of unstable mental models than verbal-learning-style students on three topics. The findings revealed that the students tend to have different concepts on the plate tectonics depending on their learning style.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.385-398
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of The Model of Phases of the Moon on conception changes for preservice teachers. The researcher interviewed two preservice teachers under the agreement with them on their participation in the research just before he performed a class using The New Model of Phases of the Moon. The post-interview with the same content as the pre-interview was preformed one month later. The main content of the interview is as follows; 'Explain the shape of the Moon by drawing it.', 'Explain the relative different position among the Sun, Earth, and Moon depending on phases of the Moon by drawing them.', 'What do you think of the cause of phases of the Moon?', 'Draw a picture to explain why we always see only one side of the moon.' The results of the research are as follows. First, the class with New Model of Phases of the Moon was able to perceive the relationship of Sun, Earth, and Moon in three-dimensions rather than in two-dimensions and it helped to change their misconception that the Moon's shadow causes the Moon's shape. Secondly, the class with New Model of Phases of the Moon helped preservice teachers understand better the different positional relationships among the Sun, Earth, and Moon depending on the Moon shapes. Third, the class adopting the New Model of Phases of the Moon help preservice teachers form scientific conceptions on the causes of phase change of the Moon. Fourth, the class with the New Model of Phases of the Moon is not appropriate for explaining the reason why only one face of the Moon is seen. Based upon the results above, the researcher realized the limitation of this model and suggested that this model would help learners understand phase change of the Moon and increase space perception ability.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.862-871
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• 2002

We investigated elementary students' conceptions of the simple electric circuit using a battery, a bulb and a wire, and made comparison between the cognitive conflict through peer discussion and the cognitive conflict through physical experience. Two hundred and sixty-four sixth grade students who already had learned about the electric circuit were participated. The questionnaire to investigate the student's conceptions about simple electric circuit consisted of 5 items drawing the wire connections between a battery and a bulb to light the bulb. The students in the discussion group paired randomly with student who had different conceptions, and then each pairs discussed about their ideas freely with each other. After discussion they conducted CCLT(Cognitive Conflict Level Test) which consisted of 4 factors; recognition, interest, anxiety, reappraisal. The physical experience group conducted a task in which they connected a battery and a bulb with a wire, then conducted CCLT. The sixth graders had various misconceptions. Most students were not aware of the scope of negative battery terminal and two electric terminals of a bulb. Many students emphasized the tip of a bulb and positive battery terminal. The score of CCLT in the discussion group was higher than in the physical experience group. This results showed that discussion with peers was more effective than physical experience to arouse cognitive conflict.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-77
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• 2008

We investigated the textbook model explaining a phase of the Moon and compared it with student models at the secondary levels in Korea. 20 high school students and 36 middle school students from suburb area participated in this study. Participants were interviewed to explain understandings about the cause of the Moon's phase with drawing their models. The results of this study showed that the textbooks now in use explain the phase of the Moon with one unique scientific model, while students displayed 6 different kinds of models including the scientific model. Furthermore the students tend to have comparatively scientific model modes as their grades increase and their scholastic ability levels become higher. Although the students have learned the Moon's phase in school, they still have alternative models because the textbook does not explain enough for the students to overcome their alternative conceptions. In the textbook, the model presented without explanation of the limitation of the model, so there can be a gap between the model in the textbooks and the models in the mind of students. With these findings, we propose complementary models for helping secondary school students to develop their understanding of moon phases.