• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.137-154
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• 2012

Approximation' is one of central conceptions in calculus. A basic conception for explaining 'approximation' is 'tangent', and 'tangent' is a 'line' with special condition. In this study, we will study pedagogically these mathematical knowledge on the ground of a viewpoint on the teaching of secondary geometry, and in connection with these we will suggest the teaching program and the chief end for the probable teaching. For this, we will examine point, line, circle, straight line, tangent line, approximation, and drive meaningfully mathematical knowledge for algebraic operation through the process translating from the above into analytic geometry. And we will construct the stream line of mathematical knowledge for approximation from a view of modern mathematics. This study help mathematics teachers to promote the pedagogical content knowledge, and to provide the basis for development of teaching model guiding the mathematical knowledge. Moreover, this study help students to recognize that mathematics is a systematic discipline and school mathematics are activities constructed under a fixed purpose.

• 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.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.547-568
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to analyze whether statistics and statistical education of intensive courses at the teachers college can improve elementary pre-service teacher' statistical attitudes. Findings on this study are as follows: First, there was meaningful difference in the elementary pre-service teacher' attitudes with significant level of 0.05. This proved that statistics and statistical education of intensive courses at the teachers college was effective on improving elementary pre-service teacher' attitudes. Second, there was meaningful difference in the pre-service math teacher' conception in the 2009 reformed curriculum for elementary mathematics.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 2005

This paper is investigated conception and methodology of data selection, cleaning, integration, transformation, reduction, selection and application of data mining techniques, and model evaluation during procedure of the knowledge discovery in database (KDD) based on Mathematics. Statistical role and methodology in KDD is studied as branch of Mathematics. Also, we investigate the history, mathematical background, important modeling techniques using statistics and information, practical applied field and entire examples of data mining. Also we study the differences between data mining and statistics.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.145-160
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• 2012

Prospective teachers need to have an opportunity to critically examine their initial perception with regard to effective mathematics instruction during the teacher education period. This study analyzed the perception in relation to good mathematics instruction by a total of 265 prospective teachers from four institutes for elementary teacher education using a survey. The results of this study showed that the pre-service teachers regarded learner, teaching and learning method, selection of content, and construction of curriculum as important for high-quality mathematics instruction. However, they revealed relatively low levels of agreement against the importance of instructional materials, classroom environment and atmosphere, and assessment. On the basis of teachers' perception on each element of effective mathematics instruction, this paper raises issues for discussion and includes some implications for teacher education.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.283-304
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• 2019

This paper investigates what informal knowledge and strategies fifth-grade students brought to a classroom and how much they had potential to solve fraction division story problems. The findings show that most of the participants were engaged to understand the meaning of fraction division prior to their formal instruction at school. In order to solve the story problems, the informal knowledge related to fractions as well as division was actively utilized in student's strategies and justification. Students also used various informal strategies from mental calculation, direct modeling, to relational thinking. Formal instructions about fraction division at schools can be facilitated for sense-making of this complex fraction division conception by unpacking informal knowledge and thinking they might bring to the classrooms.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.431-451
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• 2017

This is a descriptive study with the intent of providing a rich characterization of teachers' perceptions of rate of change. The nature of teachers' perceptions and differences among teachers were examined by collecting data through a survey on teachers' conceptions of rate of change in terms of learning goals, prerequisites, and beliefs about teaching and learning of rate of change, and an interview individually assessing teachers' concept images and definitions. The participating 13 teachers were selected to provide a range of similar and contrasting levels of experiences based on the teachers' educational background and the number of years they had been teaching. Findings and implications of this study are discussed.

• 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.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.9 no.2 s.22
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• pp.153-173
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• 2005

Recently Bianshi problems, math isomorphic problems by changing the conditions, conclusions or deduction process of the three components of the example problem, are consistently identified as an important element in Chinese math education, characteristics in Chinese math education culture and form a hot point in China, 5 main factors related to reasons why is regarded as CULTURE characteristics in Chinese math education are discussed: (a) Exam goal (b) the curriculum objectives (c) traditional mode and conception, (d) Chinese situation, (e) Chinese math tradition.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.223-246
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• 2012

Korean Ministry of Education Science, and Technology(MEST) has recommended the introduction of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in school. As part of the mathematics textbooks based on storytelling development, this research has investigated school mathematics teachers' perspectives on mathematics textbooks based on storytelling in order to identify implications for the development and the implementation of it. For the purpose, we have developed survey questionnaire and administered it to 113 high school mathematics teachers. The survey asked the teachers to address their conception of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling, its contribution to school mathematics, challenges and obstacles for the implementation. The survey shows that the mathematics teachers' conception of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling was not clear or limited. Most of them replied that they received information about mathematics textbooks based on storytelling from the materials provided by workshop or materials of school district office. While the teachers heard about that school will implement mathematics textbooks based on storytelling, they rarely had idea of how to use them in class. In the survey, the teachers identified which type of storytelling is effective for which purpose of mathematics education. They also identified the positive effect and the difficulties in the implementation of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling. The mathematics teachers pointed out that textbook is not enough. They urged that the implementation of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling should be integrated into classroom teaching and assessment to make a significant change in the educational practice of mathematics in school. Thus, mathematics teachers need support to implement mathematics textbooks based on storytelling into their teaching practice. Teacher workshop and teacher manuals need to be developed to help teachers understand educational visions and values of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling. These results of the survey would form the worthwhile base information for the development and the implementation of mathematics textbooks based on storytelling.