• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.145-174
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• 2009

Based on the thinking that people can understand more clearly when the problem is related with their prior knowledge, the Purpose of this study was to analysis students' informal knowledge, which is constructed through their mathematical experience in the context of real-world situations. According to this purpose, the following research questions were. 1) What is the characteristics of students' informal knowledge about fraction before formal fraction instruction in school? 2) What is the difference of informal knowledge of fraction according to reasoning ability and grade. To investigate these questions, 18 children of first, second and third grade(6 children per each grade) in C elementary school were selected. Among the various concept of fraction, part-whole fraction, quotient fraction, ratio fraction and measure fraction were selected for the interview. I recorded the interview on digital camera, drew up a protocol about interview contents, and analyzed and discussed them after numbering and comment. The conclusions are as follows: First, students already constructed informal knowledge before they learned formal knowledge about fraction. Among students' informal knowledge they knew correct concepts based on formal knowledge, but they also have ideas that would lead to misconceptions. Second, the informal knowledge constructed by children were different according to grade. This is because the informal knowledge is influenced by various experience on learning and everyday life. And the students having higher reasoning ability represented higher levels of knowledge. Third, because children are using informal knowledge from everyday life to learn formal knowledge, we should use these informal knowledge to instruct more efficiently.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.73-85
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the auxiliary questions of word problems presented to students on their problem solving-strategies and mathematical thinking and to discuss the educational implications of the results. As a result of making an analysis, problems that included auxiliary questions to give information on workable problem-solving strategies made it more possible for students of different levels to do relatively equal mathematical thinking than problems that didn't by inducing them to adopt efficient problem-solving strategies. And they were helpful for the students in the middle and lower tiers to find a clue for problem solving without giving up. But it's unclear whether the problems that provided possible strategies through the auxiliary questions stirred up the analogical thinking of the students. In addition, due to the impact of the problems provided, some students failed to adopt a strategy that they could have come up with on their own. On the contrary, when the students solved word problems that just offered basic recommendation by minimizing auxiliary questions, the upper-tiered students could devise various strategies, but in the case of the students in the middle and lower tiers, those who gave up easily or who couldn't find an answer were relatively larger in number.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.403-414
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• 2023

In this study, we examined the adaptive practices of science teachers in their classrooms and their perspectives on the distinguishing features of these practices within science subjects. Our analysis comprised 339 cases from 128 middle and high school science teachers nationwide, and 199 cases on the characteristics of adaptive practices in science disciplines. The primary findings were as follows: First, the most significant characteristic of adaptive practice in science disciplines pertained to experimental procedures. Within the 'suggestion of additional materials/activities' category, the most frequently cited adaptive practice, teachers incorporated demonstrations to either facilitate student comprehension or enhance motivation. Additionally, 'experimental equipment manipulation or presentation of inquiry skills' emerged as the second most common adaptive practice related to experiments. Notably, over 50% of teacher responses regarding the characteristics of adaptive practices in science pertained to experiment guidance. Second, many adaptive practices involving difficulties experienced by students in learning situations were presented, particularly in areas such as numeracy and literacy. Many cases were related to the basic ability of mathematics used as a tool in science learning and understanding scientific terms in Chinese characters. Third, beyond 'experiment guidance', the characteristic adaptive practices of science subjects were related to 'connections between scientific theory and the real world', 'misconception guidance in science', 'cultivation of scientific thinking', and 'convergence approaches'. Fourth, the cases of adaptive practice presented by the science teachers differed by school level and major; therefore, it is necessary to consider school level or major in future research related to adaptive practice. Fifth, most of the adaptive action items with a small number of cases were adaptive actions executed from a macroscopic perspective, so it is necessary to pay attention to related professionalism. Finally, based on the results of this study, the implications for science education were discussed.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2023

The advancement of online technology in the 21st century has increased online courses and web-based communication in higher education. This type of education is not limited by time or location and has made it possible to expand university campuses globally and broaden the reach of university education to the general public and students from other universities. Changes such as a decrease in the school-age population and a reorganization of the university structure have also created an opportunity to change the perception of online education. In this paper, we conducted surveys on K University students, high school seniors, and the general public to assess their satisfaction with online courses, identify areas that require massive online courses, and determine students' needs for the operation of massive online courses. The survey showed that K University students are generally satisfied with online courses. However, improvements are needed to ensure a smooth online course-taking environment, increase system uniformity, and enhance the overall online course environment. High school students have a strong preference for natural science and should be offered online courses in subjects such as mathematics and physics as prerequisites to prepare for their major classes. The general public prefers the humanities, which is evident in the purpose of the liberal arts lectures.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.1-22
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• 2023

Purpose - Southeast Asia has been the focus of Korea's foreign investment. Korea has been helping developing countries in Southeast Asia achieve economic growth and win-win cooperation through capital exports. FDI is an important channel for technology diffusion. However, the impact of FDI on the bias of technological progress in the host country is dependent on the host country's own endowment structure and capital-labor factor substitution elasticity. Therefore, the central issue of this paper is to accurately evaluate the impact of Korea's FDI to the four Southeast Asian countries in various industries on their bias of technological progress. Design/methodology - The paper uses macroeconomic data for Korea and four East Asian countries to estimate capital-labor factor elasticities of substitution using nonlinear, seemingly uncorrelated regressions (NLSUR). Then, the biased technological change index (BTCI) is calculated for each country. Finally, panel data analysis is used to explore the impact of Korean FDI in various industries in the four Southeast Asian countries on their own directed technological progress, and a robustness test is conducted. Findings - There is a substitution relationship between capital and labor factors based on their elasticity in Korea, Singapore and the Philippines. There is a complementary relationship between capital and labor factors in Indonesia and Malaysia. According to the BTCI, there is a trend toward labor-biased technological progress in all countries. Korean investments in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade in the host country trigger capital-biased technological change in the host country; investments in the finance, insurance and information and communication sectors trigger labor-biased technological change. In addition, this paper also confirms that directed technological progress can enable cross-country transmission. Originality/value - The innovation of this paper lies in three aspects. First, we estimate the BTCI for five countries and explore the trend and situation of directed technological progress in each country from each country's own perspective. Second, we explore the impact of Korean FDI in the host country on the bias to its technological progress at the industry level. Second, we explore the impact of Korean FDI in various industries in the four Southeast Asian countries on the four countries' own directed technological progress from a national perspective. Finally, we propose corresponding countermeasures for technological progress from the perspective of inverse factor endowment. These innovative points not only expand the understanding of technological progress and cross-country technology transfer in East Asia but also provide practical references for policy-makers and business operators.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.517-544
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• 2023

This study presents the process and outcomes of developing mathematical-informatics linkage·convergence class materials, based on previous research findings that indicate a lack of such materials in high schools despite the increasing need for development of interdisciplinary linkage·convergence class materials In particular, this research provides insights into the discussions of six teachers who participated in the same professional learning community program, aiming to create materials that are suitable for linkage·convergence class materials and highly practical for classroom implementation. Following the material development process, a theme-based design model was applied to create the materials. In alignment with prior research and consensus among teacher learning community members, mathematics and informatics teachers developed instructional materials that can be utilized together during a 100-minute block lesson. The developed materials utilize societal issue contexts to establish links between the two subjects, enabling students to engage in problem-solving through mathematical modeling and coding. To increase the validity and practicality of the developed resources during their field application, CVR verification was conducted involving field teachers. Incorporating the results of the CVR verification, the finalized instructional materials were presented in the form of a teaching guide. Furthermore, we aimed to provide insights into the trial-and-error experiences and deliberations of the developers throughout the material development process, with the intention of offering valuable information that can serve as a foundation for conducting related research by field researchers. These research findings hold value as empirical evidence that can explore the applicability of teaching material development models in fields. The accumulation of such materials is expected to facilitate a cyclical relationship between theoretical teaching models and practical classroom applications.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.91-110
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to explore visual models for deriving the fractional division algorithm, to see how students understand this integrated model, the rectangular partition model, when taught in elementary school classrooms, and how they structure relationships between fractional division situations. The conclusions obtained through this study are as follows. First, in order to remind the reason for multiplying the reciprocal of the divisor or the meaning of the reciprocal, it is necessary to explain the calculation process by interpreting the fraction division formula as the context of a measurement division or the context of the determination of a unit rate. Second, the rectangular partition model can complement the detour or inappropriate parts that appear in the existing model when interpreting the fraction division formula as the context of a measurement division, and can be said to be an appropriate model for deriving the standard algorithm from the problem of the context of the inverse of a Cartesian product. Third, in the context the inverse of a Cartesian product, the rectangular partition model can naturally reveal the calculation process in the context of a measurement division and the context of the determination of a unit rate, and can show why one division formula can have two interpretations, so it can be used as an integrated model.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.131-155
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate if top-ranked high school students do integrated understanding about the concept of a differential coefficient. For here, the meaning of integrated understanding about the concept of a differential coefficient is whether students understand tangent and velocity problems, which are occurrence contexts of a differential coefficient, by connecting with the concept of a differential coefficient and organically understand the concept, algebraic and geometrical expression of a differential coefficient and applied situations about a differential coefficient. For this, 38 top-ranked high school students, who are attending S high school, located in Cheongju, were selected as subjects of this analysis. The test was developed with high-school math II textbooks and various other books and revised and supplemented by practising teachers and experts. It is composed of 11 questions. Question 1 and 2-(1) are about the connection between the concept of a differential coefficient and algebraic and geometrical expression, question 2-(2) and 4 are about the connection between occurrence context of the concept and the concept itself, question 3 and 10 are about the connection between the expression with algebra and geometry. Question 5 to 9 are about applied situations. Question 6 is about the connection between the concept and application of a differential coefficient, question 8 is about the connection between application of a differential coefficient and expression with algebra, question 5 and 7 are about the connection between application of a differential coefficient, used besides math, and expression with geometry and question 9 is about the connection between application of a differential coefficient, used within math, and expression with geometry. The research shows the high rate of students, who organizationally understand the concept of a differential coefficient and algebraic and geometrical expression. However, for other connections, the rates of students are nearly half of it or lower than half.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2014

Integrative STEM education is an engineering design-based learning approach that purposefully integrates the content and process of STEM disciplines and can extend its concept to integration with other school subjects. This study was part of fundamental research to develop an integrative STEM education program based on the science inquiry process. The specific objectives of this study were to review relevant literature related to STEM education, analyze the key elements and value of STEM education, develop an integrative STEM education model based on the science inquiry process, and suggest an exemplary program. This study conducted a systematic literature review to confirm key elements for integrative STEM education and finally constructed the integrative STEM education model through analyzing key inquiry processes extracted from prior studies. This model turned out to be valid because the average CVR value obtained from expert group was 0.78. The integrative STEM education model based on the science inquiry process consisted of two perspectives of the content and inquiry process. The content can contain science, technology, engineering, and liberal arts/artistic topics that students can learn in a real world context/problem. Also, the inquiry process is a problem-solving process that contains design and construction and is based on the science inquiry. It could integrate the technological/engineering problem solving process and/or mathematical problem solving process. Students can improve their interest in STEM subjects by analyzing real world problems, designing possible solutions, and implementing the best design as well as acquire knowledge, inquiry methods, and skills systematically. In addition, the developed programs could be utilized in schools to enhance students' understanding of STEM disciplines and interest in mathematics and science. The programs could be used as a basis for fostering convergence literacy and cultivating integrated and design-based problem-solving ability.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.735-760
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• 2009

Most of every teachers' life is occupied with his or her instruction, and a classroom is a laboratory for mutual development between teacher and students also. Namely, a teacher's professionalism can be enhanced by circulations of continual reflection, experiment, verification in the laboratory. Professional development is pursued primarily through teachers' reflective practices, especially instruction practices which is grounded on $Sch\ddot{o}n's$ epistemology of practices. And a thorough penetration about situations or realities and an exact understanding about students that are now being faced are foundations of reflective practices. In this study, at first, we explored the implications of earlier studies for discussing a teacher's practice. We could found two essential consequences through reviewing existing studies about classroom and instructions. One is a calling upon transition of perspectives about instruction, and the other is a suggestion of necessity of a teachers' reflective practices. Subsequently, we will talking about an instance of a middle school mathematics teacher's practices. We observed her instructions for a year. She has created her own practical knowledges through circulation of reflection and practices over the years. In her classroom, there were three mutual interaction structures included in a rich expressive environments. The first one is students' thinking and justifying in their seats. The second is a student's explaining at his or her feet. The last is a student's coming out to solve and explain problem. The main substances of her practical know ledges are creating of interaction structures and facilitating students' spontaneous changes. And the endeavor and experiment for diagnosing trouble and finding alternative when she came across an obstacles are also main elements of her practical knowledges Now, we can interpret her process of creating practical knowledge as a process of self-directed professional development when the fact that reflection and practices are the kernel of a teacher's professional development is taken into account.