• School Mathematics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.197-222
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• 2007

The study aims to reflect the elementary school geometry education based on the Realistic Mathematics Education in the Netherlands in the light of the results from recent researches in geometry education and the direction of geometry standards for school mathematics of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in order to induce implications for improving korean geometry curriculum and textbook series. In order to attain these purposes, the present paper reflects the history of elementary school geometry education in the Netherlands, sketches the elementary school geometry education based on the Realistic Mathematics Education in the Netherlands by reflecting general goals of the mathematics education, the core goals for geometry strand of the Netherlands, and geometry and spatial orientation strand of Dutch Pluspunt textbook series for the elementary school more concretely. Under these reflections on the documents, it is analyzed what is the characteristics of geometry strand in the Netherlands as follows: emphasis on realistic spatial phenomenon, intuitive and informal approach, progressive approach from intuitive activity to spatial reasoning, intertwinement of mathematics strands and other disciplines, emphasis on interaction of the students, cyclical repetition of experiencing phase, explaining phases, and connecting phase. Finally, discussing points for improving our elementary school geometry curriculum and textbook series development are described as follows: introducing spatial orientation and emphasizing spatial visualization and spatial reasoning with respect to the instruction contents, considering balancing between approach stressing on grasping space and approach stressing on logical structure of geometry, intuitive approach, and integrating mathematics strands and other disciplines with respect to the instruction method.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-62
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• 2016

Cultivating mathematical creativity is one of the aims in the recently revised mathematics curricular. However, there have been lack of researches on how to nurture mathematical creativity for ordinary students. Perspective of Realistic Mathematics Education(RME), which pursues education of creative person as the ultimate goal of mathematics education, could be useful for developing principles and methods for cultivating mathematical creativity. This study reanalyzes RME from the points of view in mathematical creativity education. Major findings are followed. First, students should have opportunities for mathematical creation through mathematization, while seeking and creating certainty. Second, it is vital to begin with realistic contexts to guarantee mathematical creation by students, in which students can imagine or think. Third, students can create mathematics in realistic contexts by modelling. Fourth, students create the meaning of 'model of(MO)', which models the given context, the meaning of 'model for(MF)', which models formal mathematics. Then, students create MOs and MFs that are equivalent to the intial MO and MF given by textbook or teacher. Flexibility, fluency, and novelty could be employed to evaluate the MOs and the MFs created by students. Fifth, cultivation of mathematical creativity can be supported from development of local instructional theories by thought experiment, its application, and reflection. In conclusion, to employ the education model of cultivating mathematical creativity by RME drawn in this study could be reasonable when design mathematics lessons as well as mathematics curriculum to include mathematical creativity as one of goals.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.159-170
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• 2002

The undergraduate curriculum in differential equations has undergone important changes in favor of the visual and numerical aspects of the course primarily because of recent technological advances. Yet, research findings that have analyzed students' thinking and understanding in a reformed setting are still lacking. This paper discusses an ongoing developmental research effort to adapt the instructional design perspective of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) to the teaching and learning of differential equations at Ewha Womans University. The RME theory based on the design heuristic using context problems and modeling was developed for primary school mathematics. However, the analysis of this study indicates that a RME design for a differential equations course can be successfully adapted to the university level.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.44 no.3 s.110
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• pp.375-396
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• 2005

This paper reports on the main results of 3 study that compared students' beliefs, skills, and understandings in an innovative approach to differential equations to more conventional approaches. The innovative approach, referred to as the Realistic Mathematics Education Based Differential Equations (IODE) project, capitalizes on advances within the discipline of mathematics and on advances within the discipline of mathematics education, both at the K-12 and tertiary levels. Given the integrated leveraging of developments both within mathematics and mathematics education, the IODE project is paradigmatic of an approach to innovation in undergraduate mathematics, potentially sewing as a model for other undergraduate course reforms. The effect of the IODE projection maintaining desirable mathematical views and in developing students' skills and relational understandings as judged by the three assessment instruments was largely positive. These findings support our conjecture that, when coupled with careful attention to developments within mathematics itself, theoretical advances that initially grew out research in elementary school classrooms can be profitably leveraged and adapted to the university setting. As such, our work in differential equations may serve as a model for others interested in exploring the prospects and possibilities of improving undergraduate mathematics education in ways that connect with innovations at the K-12 level

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.81-109
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• 1999

This study aims to reflect the basic principles and teaching-teaming principles of Realistic Mathematics Education in order to suppose an way in which mathematics as an activity is carried out in primary school. The development of what is known as RME started almost thirty years ago. It is founded by Freudenthal and his colleagues at the former IOWO. Freudenthal stressed the idea of matheamatics as a human activity. According to him, the key principles of RME are as follows: guided reinvention and progressive mathematisation, level theory, and didactical phenomenology. This means that children have guided opportunities to reinvent mathematics by doing it and so the focal point should not be on mathematics as a closed system but on the process of mathematisation. There are different levels in learning process. One should let children make the transition from one level to the next level in the progress of mathematisation in realistic contexts. Here, contexts means that domain of reality, which in some particular learning process is disclosed to the learner in order to be mathematised. And the word of 'realistic' is related not just with the real world, but is related to the emphasis that RME puts on offering the students problem situations which they can imagine. Under the background of these principles, RME supposes the following five instruction principles: phenomenological exploration, bridging by vertical instruments, pupils' own constructions and productions, interactivity, and interwining of learning strands. In order to reflect how to realize these principles in practice, the teaming process of algorithms is illustrated. In this process, children follow a learning route that takes its inspiration from the history of mathematics or from their own informal knowledge and strategies. Considering long division, the first levee is associated with real-life activities such as sharing sweets among children. Here, children use their own strategies to solve context problems. The second level is entered when the same sweet problems is presented and a model of the situation is created. Then it is focused on finding shortcomings. Finally, the schema of division becomes a subject of investigation. Comparing realistic mathematics education with constructivistic mathematics education, there interaction, reflective thinking, conflict situation are many similarities but there are alsodifferences. They share the characteristics such as mathematics as a human activity, active learner, etc. But in RME, it is focused on the delicate balance between the spontaneity of children and the authority of teachers, and the development of long-term loaming process which is structured but flexible. In this respect two forms of mathematics education are different. Here, we learn how to develop mathematics curriculum that respects the theory of children on reality and at the same time the theory of mathematics experts. In order to connect the informal mathematics of children and formal mathematics, we need more teachers as researchers and more researchers as observers who try to find the mathematical informal notions of children and anticipate routes of children's learning through thought-experiment continuously.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2008

In this paper, we discuss two representations of a curve. One is a static representation as set of points, the other is a dynamic representation using time parameter. And we suggest needs of designing a computer microword where we can represent a curve both statically and dynamically. We also emphasize the importance of translation activity from a static representation to a dynamic representation. For this purpose, we first consider constructionism and 'computers and mathematics education' as a theoretical backgrounds. We focus the curve of a parabola in this paper since this is common in mathematics curriculum and is related to realistic situation such as throwing ball. And we survey the mathematics curriculum about parabola representation. And we introduce JavaMAL microworld that is integrated microworld between LOGO and DGS. In this microworld, we represent a parabola using a dynamic action, and connect this dynamic parabola action to recursive patterns. Finally, we remake a parabola for a realistic situation using this dynamic representation. And we discuss the educational meaning of dynamic representation and its computer microworld.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.341-355
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• 2011

A research group consisting of some mathematics education scholars and school teachers has been formed to build a website which intended to combine both theories and practices of mathematical teaching since 2002. There were three working stages: video-tapping realistic math teaching, developing video discs of different themes, and designing e-Learning. The group members learned knowledge of teaching by actual participating. On the other hand, the products enabled the audience to get professional development in knowledge of both mathematics and teaching. Management process of this group and effects upon the participants and users will be presented and discussed in this paper. A research group consisting of some mathematics education scholars and school teachers has been formed to build a website which intended to combine both theories and practices of mathematical teaching since 2002. There were three working stages: video-tapping realistic math teaching, developing video discs of different themes, and designing e-Learning. The group members learned knowledge of teaching by actual participating. On the other hand, the products enabled the audience to get professional development in knowledge of both mathematics and teaching. Management process of this group and effects upon the participants and users will be presented and discussed in this paper.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Mathematical Education Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.129-146
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• 2006

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.19 no.4 s.24
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• pp.733-767
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• 2005

During the past decades, there has been a fundamental change in the objectives and nature of mathematics education, as well as a shift in research paradigms. The changes in mathematics education emphasize learning mathematics from realistic situations, students' invention or construction solution procedures, and interaction with other students of the teacher. This shifted perspective has many similarities with the theoretical . perspective of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) developed by Freudental. The RME theory focused the guide reinvention through mathematizing and takes into account students' informal solution strategies and interpretation through experientially real context problems. The heart of this reinvention process involves mathematizing activities in problem situations that are experientially real to students. It is important to note that reinvention in a collective, as well as individual activity, in which whole-class discussions centering on conjecture, explanation, and justification play a crucial role. The overall purpose of this study is to examine the developmental research efforts to adpat the instructional design perspective of RME to the teaching and learning of differential equation is collegiate mathematics education. Informed by the instructional design theory of RME and capitalizes on the potential technology to incorporate qualitative and numerical approaches, this study offers as approach for conceptualizing the learning and teaching of differential equation that is different from the traditional approach. Data were collected through participatory observation in a differential equations course at a university through a fall semester in 2003. All class sessions were video recorded and transcribed for later detailed analysis. Interviews were conducted systematically to probe the students' conceptual understanding and problem solving of differential equations. All the interviews were video recorded. In addition, students' works such as exams, journals and worksheets were collected for supplement the analysis of data from class observation and interview. Informed by the instructional design theory of RME, theoretical perspectives on emerging analyses of student thinking, this paper outlines an approach for conceptualizing inquiry-oriented differential equations that is different from traditional approaches and current reform efforts. One way of the wars in which thus approach complements current reform-oriented approaches 10 differential equations centers on a particular principled approach to mathematization. The findings of this research will provide insights into the role of the mathematics teacher, instructional materials, and technology, which will provide mathematics educators and instructional designers with new ways of thinking about their educational practice and new ways to foster students' mathematical justifications and ultimately improvement of educational practice in mathematics classes.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-115
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to look into whether this mathematising learning utilizing realistic context has an effect on the mathematical thinking. To solve the above problem, two 5th grade classes of D Elementary School in Seoul were selected for performing necessary experiments with one class designated as an experimental group and the other class as a comparative group. Throughout 17 times for six weeks, the comparative group was educated with general mathematics learning by mathematics and "mathematics practices," while the experimental group was taught mainly with mathematising learning using realistic context. As a result, to start with, in case of the experimental group that conducted the mathematising learning utilizing realistic coherence, in the analogical and developmental thoughts which are mathematical thoughts related to the methods of mathematics, in the thinking of expression and the one of basic character which are mathematical thoughts related to the contents of mathematics, and in the thinking of operation, the average points were improved more than the comparative group, also having statistically significant differences. The study suggested that it is necessary to conduct subsequent studies that can verify by expanding to each grade, sex and region, develop teaching methods suitably to the other content domains and purposes of figures, and demonstrate the effects. In addition to those, evaluation tools which can evaluate the mathematical thinking processes of children appropriately and in more diversified methods will have to be developed. Furthermore, in order to maximize mathematising for each group in each mathematising process, it would be necessary to make efforts for further developing realistic problem situations, works and work sheets, which are adequate to the characteristics of the upper and lower groups.