• The Mathematical Education
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.213-231
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the 6th graders' understanding of the concepts of variable on various aspects of school algebra. For this purpose, the test of concepts of variable targeting a sixth-grade class was conducted and then two students were selected for in-depth interview. The level of mathematics achievement of the two students was not significantly different but there were differences between them in terms of understanding about the concepts of variable. The results obtained in this study are as follows: First, the students had little basic understanding of the variables and they had many cognitive difficulties with respect to the variables. Second, the students were familiar with only the symbol '${\Box}$' not the other letters nor symbols. Third, students comprehended the variable as generalizers imperfectly. Fourth, the students' skill of operations between letters was below expectations and there was the student who omitted the mathematical sign in letter expressions including the mathematical sign such as x+3. Fifth, the students lacked the ability to reason the patterns inductively and symbolize them using variables. Sixth, in connection with the variables in functional relationships, the students were more familiar with the potential and discrete variation than practical and continuous variation. On the basis of the results, this study gives several implications related to the early algebra education, especially the teaching methods of variables.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.188-196
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• 2012

Science festivals have occupied a very important axle in informal science education that enables students to experience the amazement of scientific experiments to think over scientific principals beyond the formal education in the classrooms. Among the concerned person, the most benefit-taken group may be the assistant who help the participants experience the activities in the festival. In order to find out the ways to make the student assistant's participation into a meaningful education experience, we analyzed the types of the activities in the science festival as well as the characteristics of the interaction between the student-assistants and the participating students are studied. The research findings are as follows: First, most activities in the science festival had related to the scientific concepts or principals; however, the understanding of the concepts and principals didn't highly affect the procedure of the activities. In many cases the students operated and made results without checking the related concepts or principals. Second, the student-assistants showed the consistency of operation in guiding their activities. They were explaining mainly the process of the experiments without giving a chance to think of related concepts or principles. We suggest that teacher should consider the student-assistants' learning in the festival as well as that of the participants.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.163-175
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• 2003

The research was aimed to find a special quality to the mathematical concept development using a graphing calculator in the collaborative learning. I could observe the process in which the students had formed the generalized and abstract mathematical concepts after they were given different concepts. I \ulcorner-Iso observed the characteristics of how they started with a vague syncretic conglomeration and approached to the complicated thoughts and genuine concepts. The advance of the collection type was achieved in the process of teacher's confirming of what the students had observed with a calculator. The language and the instrument were used in order for students to control the partial process. Also, they were given similar types of problems to make them clear when the students confronted 'the crisis of thoughts' at the level of pseudo-concept.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.25 no.spc5
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• pp.548-555
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• 2007

In this paper, we suggested that those elementary school students who are gifted in science should be taught basic and fundamental concepts to solve applied problems. We developed a teaching model based on a lesson regarding the path that light takes when passing through a lens on the base of refraction of light. We applied the teaching model to scientifically-gifted elementary school students and analyzed the results. The teaching model is based on the circulation loaming model appropriate for learning such concepts. The problems were designed and applied in order to determine the students' level of concept skills held and also to develop new teaching tools to help their understanding of concepts. As a result, we confirmed that the students, who were unable to describe the path of the light before the course of instruction was given, were able to draw and explain the path of light passing trough lens by using the law of refraction following the instruction.

• Education of Primary School Mathematics
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• v.9 no.1 s.17
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• pp.31-41
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• 2005

In modern theory, creativity is an aim of mathematics education not only for the gifted but also fur the general students. The assertion that we must cultivate the creativity for the gifted students and drill the mechanical activity for the general students are unreasonable. Freudenthal has advocated the reinvention method, a pedagogical principle in mathematics education, which would promote the creativity. In this method, the pupils start with a meaningful context, not ready-made concepts, and invent informative method through which he could arrive at the formative concepts progressively. In many face the reinvention method is contrary to the traditional method. In traditional method, which was named as 'concretization method' by Freudenthal, the pupils start with ready-made concepts, and applicate this concepts to various instances through which he could arrive at the understanding progressively. Freudenthal believed that the mathematical creativity could not be cultivated through the concretization method in which the teacher transmit a ready-made concept to the pupils. In the article, we close examined the reinvention method, and presented a context of delivery route which is a illustration of reinvention method. Through that context, the principle of pascal's triangle is reinvented progressively.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze hierarchy for high school students' concepts about genetics. The assessment of genetics related concept was conducted for 10th and 11th grade students and a hierarchy map was schematized based on the evaluation result using Knowledge State Analysis Method. Some differences were found when comparing the result of whole students' hierarchy with hierarchy on 7th national science education curriculum. In analyzing hierarchy by grade, concepts of highest and lowest level turned out same but some concepts of middle level changed. In case of analysis of hierarchy for concepts about genetics by score, as score was higher, the number of concept in lower level became larger and the relationship among concepts became more structurized. Following studies are required to develop specific teaching strategies for having effective genetics concept and conduct case study of applying the concept hierarchy through this method to class in the field.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among spatial ability, learning styles, visual-perception- recall abiltiy, and the conceptual construction of the earth and moon's motion. Four paper-and-pencil tests were used to measure students' cognitive variables. Spatial ability was measured by Spatial Visualization Test, visual-perception-recall ability was measured by Rey's Figure which also have used to test visual- perception-recall ability of right-temporal lobes, and VVT were used to investigate students' learning styles. further, the test of concept construction was consisted of 15 items about the earth and moon's motion developed by researcher One hundred and twenty-seven 6th-, one hundred and sixteen 7th-, eighty-seven 9th-grade, ninety-three college students were participated in the investigation of the effects of age and learning style on conceptual construction. In the analysis of students' performances, spatial ability, visual-perception-recall ability, and conceptual achievement showed an increasing pattern with grading. In addition, visual learner's conceptual achievement showed a significantly higher score on conceptual test than verbal learner's(p<0.05). The results of the present study supported tile hypothesis that learning styles would differently influence to learning atmospheric concepts by students'learning styles. This study also indicated to be considered the students' spatial ability in learning atmospheric concepts.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.151-163
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• 1998

In mathematics education, teaching-learning activity can be divided largely into the understanding the mathematical concepts, derivation of principles and laws, acquirement of the mathematical abilities. We utilize various media, teaching tools, audio-visual materials, manufacturing materials for understanding mathematical concepts. But sometimes we cannot define or explain correctly the concepts as well as the derivation of principles and laws by these materials. In order to solve the problem we can use the computer. In this paper, character and movement state of various quadratic function graph types can be used. Using the computers is more visible than other educational instruments like blackboards, O.H.Ps., etc. Then, students understand the mathematical concepts and the correct quadratic function graph correctly. Consquently more effective teaching-learning activity can be done. Usage of computers is the best method for improving the mathematical abilities because computers have functions of the immediate reaction, operation, reference and deduction. One of the important characters of mathematics is accuracy, so we use computers for improving mathematical abilities. This paper is about the program focused on the part of "the quadratic function graph", which exists in mathematical curriculum the middle school. When this program is used for students, it is expected the following educational effect. 1, Students will have positive thought by arousing interests of learning because this program is composed of pictures, animations with effectiveness of sound. 2. This program will cause students to form the mathematical concepts correctly. 3. By visualizing the process of drawing the quadratic function graph, students understand the quadratic function graph structually. 4. Through the feedback, the recognition ability of the trigonometric function can be improved. 5. It is possible to change the teacher-centered instruction into the student-centered instruction. For the purpose of increasing the efficiencies and qualities of mathmatics education, we have to seek the various learning-teaching methods. But considering that no computer can replace the teacher′s role, tearchers have to use the CIA program carefully.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2013

This study was to analyse the understanding of the concepts of science based on the 6th graders' levels of logical thinking in elementary schools. To achieve the goal of this study, logical thinking test was given to 108 6th graders of elementary school and 32 students were interviewed. The result of this study was as follows. First, 61.1% of students were in concrete operational period in their logical thinking, 27.8% were in their transitional period, and 11.1% were in their formal operational period. By using Flow-Map, 32 students were analyzed and their levels of logical thinking was significantly associated with their understanding of concept. Students' flexibility of cognitive structure was significantly associated with logical thinking and the levels of understanding concepts as well. However, misconception didn't show significant association with levels of logical thinking. Second, the characters of understanding of scientific concept by their levels of logical thinking was that as you get higher levels of logical thinking, their cognitive structure to understand concept was more systemized, in order and more logical. The result of this study suggested the followings in science experiment class. First, 6th graders of elementary schools had various levels of logical thinking and that affected to their understanding of scientific concepts. Therefore, lesson planning and class should be done by reflecting their different levels of logical thinking. Second, since they had different levels of logical thinking, various teaching methods should be utilized to make students understand scientific concepts more systematically.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-177
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• 2009

This study aims to explore how teachers construct scientific explanation during instructional practices to help students' scientific inquiry. Before investigating teachers' classroom practices, elementary school science curriculum was examined to identify scientific concepts, particularly in earth science. Then, a total of six teachers' scientific explanation in actual teaching practices was analysed focusing on a) explanation of scientific concepts; b) rationale for scientific explanation; c) connection between scientific explanation and everyday explanation. The findings are as follows. First, the science curriculum provides $1{\sim}2$ main scientific concepts per unit, which are mostly appeared in the unit title. Those concepts and sub-concepts are not explicitly described but embedded in students' inquiry activities. Second, the teachers explain scientific concepts and discuss the rationale behind the scientific explanation, but rarely connect scientific explanation to everyday explanation. Also, the level of scientific explanations is low remaining level 1 or 2, not reaching 3, the highest level. Based on the results, the study suggests a) teachers need to provide explicit and clear explanations about scientific concepts; b) teachers are required to connect scientific explanation and everyday explanation; c) the level of teachers scientific explanation should be elevated by using an evidence, reasoning and claim, the components of scientific explanation as well as introducing new scientific concepts and inquiry activities.