• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.353-372
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• 2015

This study investigated how to utilize number line related number concept learning and analyzed problems related utilization of number line focused on natural number and rational number(fraction, decimal), in elementary school mathematics textbook. The purpose of this study is to identify desirable direction about the utilization of number line, based on analysis of the introduction of time, introduction contents and utilization method in elementary school mathematics textbook.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.207-219
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• 2004

There have been studies reporting the increase in student confidence in mathematics when using technology. However, past studies indicating a positive correlation between technology and confidence in mathematics do not explain why they see this positive outcome. With increased availability and easy access to the Internet in schools and the development of free online virtual manipulatives, this research was interested in how the use of virtual manipulatives in mathematics can affect students confidence in their mathematical abilities. Our hypothesis was that the classes using virtual manipulatives which allows students to connecting dynamic visual image with abstract symbols will help students gain a deeper conceptual understanding of math concept thus increasing their confidence and ability in mathematics. The participants in this study were 46 fifth-grade students in three ability groups: one high, one middle and one low. During a two-week unit on fractions, students in three groups interacted with several virtual manipulative applets in a computer lab. Data sources in the project included a pre and posttest of students mathematics content knowledge, Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale, field notes and student interviews, and classroom videotapes. Our aim was to find evidence for increased level of confidence in mathematics as students strengthened their understanding of fraction concepts. Results from the achievement score indicated an overall main effect showing significant improvement for all ability groups following the treatment and an increase in the confidence level from the preassessment of the Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale in the middle and high ability groups. An interesting finding was that the confidence level for the low ability group students who had the highest confidence level in the beginning did not change much in the final confidence scale assessment. In the middle and high ability groups, the confidence level did increase according to the improvement of the contest posttest. Through interviews, students expressed how the virtual manipulatives assisted their understanding by verifying their answers as they worked and facilitated their ability to figure out math concept in their mind and visually.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.219-233
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• 2012

Practicality and value of mathematics can be verified when different problems that we face in life are resolved through mathematical knowledge. This study intends to identify whether the fraction teaching is being taught and learned at current elementary schools for students to recognize practicality and value of mathematical knowledge and to have the ability to apply the concept when solving problems in the real world. Accordingly, contextual problems and noncontextual problems are proposed around fractional arithmetic area, and compared and analyze the achievement level and problem solving processes of them. Analysis showed that there was significant difference in achievement level and solving process between contextual problems and noncontextual problems. To instruct more meaningful learning for student, contextual problems including historical context or practical situation should be presented for students to experience mathematics of creating mathematical knowledge on their own.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.377-399
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• 2010

Mixed calculations involving fractions and decimals covered in the unit 6-Na in elementary school math class cause students difficulties, leading them make lots of errors. If students fail to understand temporarily or partly what the teacher taught or lose confidence and continue to have difficulty due to a lack of understanding and skills of algorithm, though they properly understand the concept and principle of the learning content, it should be resolved through intensive teaching. For students suffering from this problem, a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment are required. Therefore, this study developed a feedback program after diagnosing students' errors through evaluating them in order to continuously assist them to fully understand contents regarding mixed calculations involving fractions and decimals.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-82
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• 2016

Mathematical notation is the main means to realize the power of mathematics. Under this perspective, this study analyzed the difficulties of learning an irrational number concept in terms of notation. I tried to find ways to overcome the difficulties arising from the notation. There are two primary ideas in the notation of irrational number using root. The first is that an irrational number should be represented by letter because it can not be expressed by decimal or fraction. The second is that $\sqrt{2}$ is a notation added the number in order to highlight the features that it can be 2 when it is squared. However it is difficult for learner to notice the reasons for using the root because the textbook does not provide the opportunity to discover. Furthermore, the reduction of the transparency for the letter in the development of history is more difficult to access from the conceptual aspects. Thus 'epistemological obstacles resulting from the double context' and 'epistemological obstacles originated by strengthening the transparency of the number' is expected. To overcome such epistemological obstacles, it is necessary to premise 'providing opportunities for development of notation' and 'an experience using the notation enhanced the transparency of the letter that the existing'. Based on these principles, this study proposed a plan consisting of six steps.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2009

This research is to provide a useful reference for the future revision of textbook by comparative analysis with the textbook in the 4th grade of elementary school in Japan. The results from this research is same as follows: First, Korean curriculum is emphasizing the reasonable problem-solving ability developed on the base of the mathematical knowledge and skill. Meantime, Japanese puts much value on the is focusing on discretion and the capability in life so that they emphasize each person's learning and raising the power of self-learning and thinking. The ratio on mathematics in both company are high, but Japanese ensures much more hours than Korean. Second, the chapter of Korean textbook is composed of 8 units and the title of the chapter is shown as key word, then the next objects are describes as 'Shall we do$\sim$' type. Hence, the chapter composition of Japanese textbook is different among the chapter and the title of the chapter is described as 'Let's do$\sim$'. Moreover, Korean textbook is arranged focusing on present study, however Japanese is composed with each independent segments in the present study subject to the study contents. Third, Japanese makes students understand the decimal as the extension of the decimal system with measuring unit($\ell$, km, kg) then, learn the operation by algorithm. In Korea, students learn fraction earlier than decimal, but, in Japan students learn decimal earlier than fraction. For the diagram, in Korea, making angle with vertex and side comes after the concept of angle, vertex and side is explained. Hence, in Japan, they show side and vertex to present angle.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2014

Instructions for the commutative property of multiplication at elementary schools tend to be based on checking the equality between the quantities of 'a times b 'and b' times a, ' for example, $3{\times}4=12$ and $4{\times}3=12$. This article critically examined the approaches to teach the commutative property of multiplication from Kant's perspective of mathematical knowledge. According to Kant, mathematical knowledge is a priori. Yet, the numeric exploration by checking the equality between the amounts of 'a groups of b' and 'b groups of a' does not reflect the nature of apriority of mathematical knowledge. I suggest we teach the commutative property of multiplication in a way that it helps reveal the operational schema that is necessarily and generally involved in the transformation from the structure of 'a times b' to the structure of 'b times a.' Distributive reasoning is the mental operation that enables children to perform the structural transformation for the commutative property of multiplication by distributing a unit of one quantity across the other quantity. For example, 3 times 4 is transformed into 4 times 3 by distributing each unit of the quantity 3, which results in $3{\times}4=(1+1+1){\times}4=(1{\times}4)+(1{\times}4)+(1{\times}4)+(1{\times}4)=4+4+4=4{\times}3$. It is argued that the distributive reasoning is also critical in learning the subsequent mathematics concepts, such as (a whole number)${\times}10$ or 100 and fraction concept and fraction multiplication.

• School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.209-228
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• 2017

Understanding decimal numbers is important in mathematics as well as real-life contexts. However, lots of students focus on procedures or algorithms of decimal numbers without understanding its meanings. This study analyzed teaching method related to decimal numbers in a series of mathematics textbooks of Korea, Japan, Singapore and the US. The results showed that three countries except Japan introduced the decimal numbers as another name of fraction, which highlights the relation between the concept of decimal numbers and fractions. And limited meanings of decimal numbers were shown such as 'equal parts of a whole' and 'measurement'. Especially in the korean textbooks, relationships between the decimals were dealt instrumentally and small number of models such as number lines or $10{\times}10$ grids were used repeatedly. Based these results, this study provides implications on what and how to deal with decimal numbers in teaching and learning decimal numbers with textbooks.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.105-129
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• 2016

The elements of mathematical processes include mathematical reasoning, mathematical problem-solving, and mathematical communications. Proportion reasoning is a kind of mathematical reasoning which is closely related to the ratio and percent concepts. Proportion reasoning is the essence of primary mathematics, and a basic mathematical concept required for the following more-complicated concepts. Therefore, the study aims to analyze the proportion reasoning ability of sixth graders of primary school who have already learned the ratio and percent concepts. To allow teachers to quickly recognize and help students who have difficulty solving a proportion reasoning problem, this study analyzed the characteristics and patterns of proportion reasoning of sixth graders of primary school. The purpose of this study is to provide implications for learning and teaching of future proportion reasoning of higher levels. In order to solve these study tasks, proportion reasoning problems were developed, and a total of 22 sixth graders of primary school were asked to solve these questions for a total of twice, once before and after they learned the ratio and percent concepts included in the 2009 revised mathematical curricula. Students' strategies and levels of proportional reasoning were analyzed by setting up the four different sections and classifying and analyzing the patterns of correct and wrong answers to the questions of each section. The results are followings; First, the 6th graders of primary school were able to utilize various proportion reasoning strategies depending on the conditions and patterns of mathematical assignments given to them. Second, most of the sixth graders of primary school remained at three levels of multiplicative reasoning. The most frequently adopted strategies by these sixth graders were the fraction strategy, the between-comparison strategy, and the within-comparison strategy. Third, the sixth graders of primary school often showed difficulty doing relative comparison. Fourth, the sixth graders of primary school placed the greatest concentration on the numbers given in the mathematical questions.