• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.509-521
• /
• 2020

This study began with the discovery of the concept of frequency density in Singapore textbooks and in a set of subject contents of the UK's General Certificate of Secondary Education. To understand the mathematical meaning of frequency density, the mathematical connection of frequency density was considered in terms of mathematics internal connections and mathematics external connections. In addition, the teaching method of frequency density was introduced. In terms of mathematical internal connections, the connections among the probability density function, relative frequency density, and frequency density in high school statistics were examined. Regarding mathematical external connections, the connection with the density concept in middle school science was analyzed. Based on the mathematical connection, the study suggested the need to introduce the frequency density concept. For the teaching method of frequency density, the Singapore secondary mathematics textbook was introduced. The Singapore textbook introduces frequency density to correctly represent and accurately interpret data in histograms with unequal class intervals. Therefore, by introducing frequency density, Korea can consistently teach probability density function, relative frequency density, and frequency density, emphasizing the mathematical internal connections among them and considering the external connections with the science subject. Furthermore, as a teaching method of frequency density, we can consider the method provided in the Singapore textbook.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.289-314
• /
• 2013

Achievement profile by attribute in Korean students' mathematics was analyzed by applying cognitive diagnostic model, which is the newest measurement theory, to 2011 NAEA(National Assessment of Educational Assessment) results. The results are as follows. As the level of school is higher from 6th grade, 9th grade to 11th grade, the percentage of students mastering cognitive attribute 9(expressions using picture, table, graph, formula, symbol, writing, etc) drastically declined from 78%, 35% to 26%. It is necessary to have learning strategies to reinforce their abilities of expressing table, graph, etc. that higher graders in mathematics are more vulnerable to. Next, the property of mastering cognitive attributes according to gender, multi-cultural family was analyzed. In terms of mathematics, the percentage of girls mastering most of the attribute generally is higher than that of boys from 6th grade to 9th grade, however, boys show higher mastery in almost attributes than girls in the 11th grade. Compared to boys, the part where girls have the most trouble is attribute 9 in mathematics(expressions using picture, table, graph, formula, symbol, writing, etc). As international marriage, influx of foreign workers, etc. increase, the number of students from Korea's multi-cultural families is expected to be higher, therefore, identifying the characteristics of their educational achievement is significant in reinforcing Korea's basic achievement. In mathematics, gap of mastery level of attributes between multi-cultural group and ordinary group is more severe in higher grade and the type of multi-cultural group that needs supports for improving achievement most urgently changed in 6th grade, 9th grade and 11th grade respectively. In the 6th and 11th grade, migrant students from North Korea show the lowest level of mastering attributes, however, in the 9th grade, the mastery rate of immigrant students is lowest. Therefore, there is an implication that supporting plans for improving achievement of students from multi-cultural family should establish other strategies based on the characteristics of school level.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.37-59
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the mathematical tasks in the high school textbooks. In particular, it aimed to reveal the overall picture of the level of cognitive demand of the mathematical tasks in the textbooks. We adopted the framework for mathematical task analysis suggested by Smith & Stein (1998) and analyzed the mathematical tasks accordingly. The findings from the analysis showed that 95 percent of the mathematical tasks were at low level and the rest at high level in terms of cognitive demand. Most of the mathematical tasks in the textbooks were algorithmic and focused on producing correct answers by using procedures.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.1-36
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between utilization of technology and TPACK in mathematics teachers, and to analyze needs and retentions, difference between needs and retentions, and educational needs of TPACK in mathematics teachers. Furthermore, we will prioritize TPACK items that mathematics teachers want to change, and provide implications for teacher education related to TPACK in the future. To do this, we analyzed 328 mathematics teachers nationwide by using survey on the utilization of technology, averages of TPACK's needs and retentions, t-test of two averages, Borich's educational needs analysis, and the Locus for Focus model. The results are as follows. Firstly, the actual utilization rate was lower than the positive recognition of utilization of technology by mathematics teachers, and many mathematics teachers mentioned the lack of knowledge related to TPACK. Secondly, the characteristics of in-service mathematics teacher's needs and retentions for TPACK were clear, and TPACK's starting line of in-service mathematics teacher can be different from pre-mathematics teacher's. The retentions was high in the order of CK, PCK and PK, and the needs was higher in the order of TPACK, TCK, TK and TPK. All of the higher retentions were knowledge related to PCK, and the value of CK was extremely high among them. In addition, mathematics teachers recognized needs for integrated knowledge related to technology, and they needed more TCK than TPK. The difference between needs and retentions showed that all items except two items in the PK were significant. Retentions of all items in CK was higher than needs, needs of all items in TK, TCK, TPK and TPACK was higher than retentions, PK and PCK were mixed. Thirdly, based on the analysis of Borich's educational needs and the Locus for Focus model, teacher education on TPACK for mathematics teachers needs to focus on TPACK, TK, TCK, and TPK. Specifically, TPACK needs to combine technology in terms of creativity-convergence, mathematical connections, communication, improvement of evaluation quality, and TK needs to new technology acquisition, function of utilizing technology, troubleshoot problems with technology, TCK needs to mathematical value(esthetic, practical) with technology, and TPK needs to consider technology in terms of evaluation methods, teaching and learning methods, improvement of pedagogy. Therefore, when determining the direction of teacher education related to TPACK in the future, if they try to reflect these items in detail, the teachers could participate more actively and receive practical help.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.143-160
• /
• 2016

Despite the recent increasing interest in classroom expertise of teachers for gifted there has been lack of research on exploring or analyzing the components of classes for gifted tailored to the characteristics of each subject matter Given this, this study looked for the components of performance domain of classes for gifted in mathematics and then analyzed one teacher's 12 lessons in terms of the components. The features of the lessons included the establishment of classroom atmosphere by considering the characteristics of mathematically gifted students, the introduction of or expansion to mathematically enriched tasks, promotion to mathematically higher thinking, and emphasis of mathematical pattern, connections, and utility. This study is expected for researchers to provide a practical case on how to analyze elementary classes for gifted in mathematics. It also helps teachers who teach gifted students to develop professional vision of mathematics instruction and to increase their classroom expertise.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.385-404
• /
• 2011

Currently, reflective teaching has been actively studied in terms of teachers' professional development relating to classroom instruction. The present study looked at, using the method of a case study, the differences between a novice and an experienced elementary school mathematics teachers' beliefs demonstrated during their reflective teaching. The findings of the study show that at the intial stage of reflective teaching, the novice teacher identified few errors during class and was not enthusiastic about applying the results of her reflective teaching due to lack of confidence. By contrast, the experienced teacher identified more errors during class than the novice teacher and had fewer reflections due to a sense of confidence. As the teachers' engagement in reflective teaching increased with time, they both felt the need for advice from experts on mathematics teaching and directed their attention to interactions with their students away from teacher-centered instruction. Further, the novice teacher engaged in more teacher-student interactions than the experienced teacher, and the experienced teacher increased the frequency of teaching reflection. Based on the findings, the article suggests a number of implications for the cooperative reflective teaching between novice and experienced teachers and the improvement of classroom instruction.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2011

This study investigated the Chinese national university entrance examination (Gaokao) in mathematics administered in 2009 and 2010 to draw out some implications on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in mathematics of Korea. To evaluate the attainments of basic mathematical skills and multilateral abilities required for further studies in university, the Gaokao mathematics is set in two forms(Art/Science), based on the Chinese national mathematics curriculum. The types of items in the Gaokao mathematics are multiple-choice, single-answer, and write-out-answer. The mathematical abilities that the Gaokao mathematics evaluates are mathematical reasoning, operation, geometrical imagination, application, and creativity. As a result, some implications on the Korean CSAT are drawn out in terms of the level of difficulty, the types of items, the arrangements, and the scores of items.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.19-36
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the research trends of elementary mathematics education in terms of topics, methods, subjects, mathematics content strands, and mathematical competencies. For this purpose, a total of 596 papers published in eight domestic journals during the recent seven years were analyzed. The results of this study showed that the popular research topics included learners' perspectives and abilities, analysis of curriculum and textbooks, and instruction and teaching methods, whereas studies on assessment and technology or manipulative materials did not get much attention. The results also showed that qualitative research methodology was used a lot with focus on students. The mathematics content strand which was most frequently studied was number and operations, and problem solving was most popular among the mathematical competencies. On the basis of these results, this paper includes several implications for the future research direction in elementary mathematics education.

• School Mathematics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.337-352
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of teaching methods among elementary school math teachers in terms of student achievement in examinations. Results are based upon data from two elementary schools. The evaluation criteria of fifteen items was modified from Ryang's original MTEBI sixteen items to measure elementary school teachers' math teaching efficacy. The result of this study could be summarized as follows. The students were divided into two groups according to teaching efficiency: higher teaching efficiency and lower teaching efficiency. A comparison of math tests taken by students from these groups demonstrates a significant statistical difference. Students with teachers in the lower efficiency group are likely to under-perform. In consequence, teachers' self-efficiency in math is considered to affect students' learning achievement in mathematics.

• The Mathematical Education
• /
• v.45 no.4 s.115
• /
• pp.459-479
• /
• 2006

There has been an increasing concern of whether a real instructional change happens in a way to promote students' mathematical development. Against this background, this paper dealt with successes and difficulties an elementary school teacher went through as she moved on to student-centered instruction. The analysis drew on classroom observations for one year to illustrate how the teacher and students established social norms, sociomathematical norms, and classroom mathematical practices that could emphasize mathematical sense-making and justification of ideas. Close analysis showed many gradual but dramatic changes in terms of mathematics classroom culture. This led to consider possibly subtle but crucial issues with regard to implementing student-centered instruction.