• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.151-170
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• 2009

This study reports a research which was conducted on how frequently and where the students use the unit circle method while dealing with trigonometric functions in solving the trigonometry questions. Moreover, the reasons behind the choice of the methods, which could be the unit circle method, the ratio method, or the use of trigonometric identities, are also investigated to get an insight about their understanding. In this study, the relationship between the students' choices of methods in solving questions is examined in terms of instrumental or relational understanding. This is a multi-method research which involves a range of research strategies. The research techniques used in this study are test, verbal protocol (think aloud), and interview. The test has been applied to ten tenth grade students of a public school to get students' solution processes on the paper. Later on, verbal protocol has been performed with three students of these ten who were of the upper, middle and lower sets in terms of their performance in the test. The aim was to get much deeper data on the students' thinking and reasoning. Finally, interview questions have been asked both these three students and other three from the initial ten students to question the reasons behind their answers to the trigonometry questions. Findings in general suggest that students voluntarily choose to learn instrumentally whose reasons include teachers' and students' preference for the easier option and the anxiety resulting from the external exam pressure.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2004

This paper is a study on the understanding process of「Matrix and Graph」on discrete mathematics using TI-92 calculator. For this purpose, we investigated the understanding process of two middle school students learning the concepts of matrix and graph using TI-92 calculator. In this process, we collected qualitative data using recorder and video camera. Then we categorized these data as follows: students' attitude related to using technology, understanding process of meaning, expression and operation of matrix and graph, mathematical communication, etc. From this, we have the following conclusions: First, students inquired out the meaning and role of matrix by themselves using calculator. We could see that calculator can do the role of good learning partner to them. Second, students realized their own mistakes when they used calculator on the process of learning matrix. So we found that calculator could form the self-leading learning circumstance on learning matrix. Third, calculators reinforce the mathematical communication in learning matrix and graph. That is, calculator could be a good mediator to reinforce mathematical communication between teacher and students, among students on learning matrix and graph.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-66
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• 2008

In this paper we present a cognitive developmental analysis of the arithmetic mean concept. This analysis leads us to a hierarchical classification at different levels of understanding of the responses of 227 students to a questionnaire which combines open-ended and multiple-choice questions. The SOLO theoretical framework is used for this analysis and we find five levels of students' responses. These responses confirm different types of difficulties encountered by students regarding their conceptualization of the arithmetic mean. Also we have observed that there are no significant differences between secondary school and university students' responses.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.95-114
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• 2012

This study examines the use of ill-structured problem to help the 4th graders' problem solving and reasoning. It appears that children with good understanding of problem situation tend to accept the situation as itself rather than just as texts and produce various results with extraction of meaningful variables from situation. In addition, children with better understanding of problem situation show AR (algorithmic reasoning) and CR (creative reasoning) while children with poor understanding of problem situation show just AR (algorithmic reasoning) on their reasoning type.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.119-139
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• 2023

Most of calculus and real analysis are concerned with the study on continuous functions. Because of self-sustaining concept caused by everyday language, continuity has difficulties. This kind of viewpoint is strengthened with that teacher explains continuity by graph drawn ceaselessly and so finally confused with mathematics concept which is continuity and connection. Thus such a concept image of continuity becomes to include components which create conflicts. Therefore, we try to analyze understanding of continuity on university students by using the concept image as an analytic tool. We survey centering on problems which create conflicts with concept definition and image. And we investigate that difference of definition in continuous function which handles in calculus and analysis exists and so try to present various results on university students' understanding of continuity concept.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-65
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• 2010

Open-ended problems can foster deeper understanding of mathematical ideas, generating creative thinking and communication in students. High-order thinking tasks such as open-ended problems involve more ambiguity and higher level of personal risks for students than they are normally exposed to in routine problems. To explore the classroom-based factors that could support or inhibit such higher-order processes, this paper also describes two cases of Singapore primary school teachers who have successfully or unsuccessfully implemented an open-ended problem in their mathematics lessons.

• East Asian mathematical journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2011

The flexible mathematical thinking - the ability to generate and connect various representations of concepts - is useful in understanding mathematical structure and variation in problem solving. In particular, the flexible mathematical thinking with the inventive mathematical thinking, the original mathematical problem solving ability and the mathematical invention is a core concept, which must be emphasized in all branches of mathematical education. In this paper, the author considered a case of flexible mathematical thinking with an inventive problem solving ability shown by his student via real analysis courses. The case is on the proofs of the equivalences of three different definitions on the concept of limit superior shown in three different real analysis books. Proving the equivalences of the three definitions, the student tried to keep the flexible mathematical thinking steadily.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.111-131
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• 2021

This study aims to investigate how secondary mathematics teachers understand and intend to use textbooks for their mathematics instruction. For this purpose, we developed a set of survey items in order to unpack what the teachers understand the mathematical tasks suggested in the textbooks in terms of the levels of cognitive demand and how they intended to use the tasks in the textbooks for their teaching. Twenty-five teachers participated in the survey. The data from the survey were analyzed. The findings from the data analysis suggested as follows: a) the teachers seemed to closely follow textbooks without attempting to modify the tasks, even when the teachers consider it is necessary to modify textbook tasks to high-level tasks, b) the teachers seemed to be unstable in regards that they admitted themselves very competent for modifying tasks for developing students' mathematical thinking but, at the same time, they were uncomfortable with transforming tasks into cognitively demanding tasks that promote students' mathematical understanding, and c) the teachers appeared to consider textbooks as significant criteria in conducting tests including midterm and final exam. In conclusion, the teachers seemed to intend to follow closely the contents and sequence of mathematics textbooks in their mathematics classrooms.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2009

School children in Brunei Darussalam, as elsewhere, learn how to apply a lot of algorithms and formulas in mathematics. These include methods of finding the lowest common multiple and highest common multiple of numbers and methods of factorizing quadratics. Investigations and experience have shown that both able and less able students learn to do these mechanically and unimaginatively and in a way that is reliable when answering examination questions. Most of them do not, however, learn these algorithms and methods so as to develop a deeper insight of what they learn and thereby perform even more effectively in examinations. Yet it is possible to teach these and other methods for understanding in ways that are enjoyable and enable students to use them effectively and with flair.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2016

WHAT we teach, and HOW students experience it, are the primary factors that shape students' understanding and beliefs of what mathematics is all about. Further, students pick up their sense of mathematics from their experience with it. We have seen the results of the approach to "break the subject into pieces and make students master it bit by bit. As an alternative, we strive to create a teaching environment in which students are DOING mathematics and thereby engender selected aspects of "mathematical culture" in the classroom. The vehicle for doing this is the so-called Japanese Open-ended approach to teaching mathematics. We will discuss three aspects of the open-ended approach - process open, end product open, formulating problems open - and the associated approach to assessing learning.